This project aims to examine the negative experiences of family members and romantic partners of individuals diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. While previous research has looked at the dysfunction within individuals with NPD, there is a need to understand the impact on their close relationships. The project will utilize an online survey and phone interviews with 100 citizens in St. Charles, Missouri to understand how pathological narcissism influences relationships with coworkers, loved ones, and partners. The data collected may provide insight for mental health organizations to assist those in relationships with NPD individuals and improve policies.

1. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
The purpose of this project is to examine the negative experience faced by family members and romantic partners in
relationships with individuals diagnosed with clinical narcissism. Existing research has examined the dysfunction caused in
individuals suffering from narcissistic personality disorder (Ronningstam, 2020b) but there is a need for research to look at the impact
on the relationships between individuals suffering from NPD and their family members, co-workers, and romantic partners, because
these family members, colleague and partners are bearing the brunt of these dysfunctional relationships. While previous research, such
as research conducted by Stinson (2008) suggests that there is an impact of narcissism on others, there is no direct analysis of the
negative experience faced by family members, co-workers and romantic partners of individuals suffering from NPD.
As society is increasingly opening about mental health issues regarding interpersonal relationships, the need to study the
different ways in which dysfunctional relationships affects people who are associated with people diagnosed with NPD is also coming
to the forefront. “While most personality disorders tend to have a distinct maladaptive interpersonal style of functioning, Narcissistic
Personality Disorder tends to be the most destructive on interpersonal relationships at work, family and in romantic relationships
(Campbell, 2018, p. 19). The results of this project may provide insight into the impact of these dysfunctional relationships on co-
workers, family members and loved ones and how best they can deal with the trauma. With the growing discussions about mental
health in public and social media regarding what boundaries should be respected and what should not be crossed in relationships,
understanding the impact of’ narcissism on the closest social circle of a person suffering from NPD is beneficial to society and
organizations because alleviating these issues have the potential to impact both the family and workplace in a positive manner.

2. According to Campbell et al. (2012), there is a glut of content directed at dissecting Narcissism to the point that the definition of a
layperson about clinical narcissism is completely skewed. Researching the experiences of those in a familial or romantic relationship
or in a co-working relationship with a narcissistic person can be considered a novel approach to understanding how those with
narcissistic partners and family members and colleagues go through traumatic or depressing experiences more accurately. This
approach can also be crucial to help the public begin to get a greater understanding of how clinical narcissism works as opposed to
being educated mainly by pop cultural references.
The data collected through this project has the potential to be used to raise awareness of narcissism in interpersonal
relationships, and to provide information for people and mental health organizations to use to create or improve.
these relationships and design trainings regarding narcissistic behavior at the workplace. In so doing, families,
co-workers and romantic partners scould potentially avoid becoming tangled in traumatic relationships and
suffer from the dysfunction, as happened previously (Ronningstam, 2020). Furthermore, the project results
may provide people and mental health organizations with information that potentially be utilized to solve the
mental health issues of partners, family members and employees who are diagnosed as clinically narcissistic.

3. Purpose Statement
The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study project is to examine the experience of interpersonal relationships
between family members and romantic partners of individuals who have been clinically diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality
Disorder. Data will be collected through an online survey, followed by personal phone interviews with participants interested in
providing further information. Specifically, the project will focus on 100 citizens located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The people are
located throughout different areas of the city and represent a variety of demographics, allowing the results of the project to potentially
be generalized to organizations and demographics throughout the United States. About the specific intended outcomes, the data
collected from this project may provide the St. Charles County Department of Public Health with information that could assist them in
concerns regarding improvement of the mental health situation in the city.

4. Importance of the Project
The results of this project are important to practitioners and organizations because they may
provide insight into the perspectives and mental health needs regarding people in relationships with those
with narcissistic personality disorder. The project allows participants to share their perspectives
anonymously.
Campbell et al. (2012) explained that “Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a debilitating mental health
affliction that obstructs one's ability to function both alone and with others. Up to 6.2% of the population may suffer
from NPD which is a mental health crisis with a long history of diagnosis and documentation.” Narcissism is still a
serious problem that can have negative effects on the family members of those who have the illness. Although negative
interpersonal dynamics has been linked to people with NPD in recorded studies, there is limited information on how
direct family members are affected. This project tries to fill in this knowledge gap. The project is also crucial to mental
health researchers and scholars as the data that will be collected will be used to build up a foundation for continuing
research on the topic of the impact of narcissism on interpersonal relationships at the workplace, in families and
between romantic partners.

5. Public
Proposed Project Approach
This project will focus on the impact of narcissistic personality disorder on the interpersonal relationships between a person
who is clinically diagnosed as suffering from NPD and their immediate family members, co-workers and loved ones. The project will
be conducted in three stages. Stage one will be completed prior to data gathering and will encompass composing the Introduction to
explain the project, a Literature Review will follow that will attempt to synthesize relevant research, and a Project Plan/Methodology
that will include an outline of how the projectwill be conducted.
Stage two of the project will be focused on data collection. The personal responses of around 100 citizens throughout Saint
Charles, Missouri will be solicited through an anonymous online survey. Because this project is utilizing a qualitative method, a field
test will be conducted for face validation, prior to the distribution of the survey to participants. The field test will be conducted with
people who are not connected to the project. Furthermore, the St. Charles County Department of Public Health Director will also
review the survey questions for face validation, prior to the survey being conducted. Participants who would like toshare information
beyond the survey will be given the option to speak with the researcher in a personal follow-up phone interview. Data analysis will
also be conducted during the second stage of the project.
Stage three of the project will be a final write-up of the project results and researcher recommendations that are based upon
the collected data, overall project research, and the accumulated learning from the researcher’s academic program. The results and
recommendations developed through the project can be used by organizations to improve or create policies, procedures, and trainings
regarding narcissistic personality disorder and to address the mental health needs of family members, romantic partners and co-
workers associated with people suffering from NPD.

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Over-arching Study Question(s)/Statement of Project Intent
The following two over-arching questions will be addressed through this project.
I. How do the pathological narcissistic tendencies in a clinically diagnosed person influence their relationships with co-workers, loved ones, partners
or cause them distress?
1. How does this relate to the effects of other serious mental diseases on partners and family members?
II. According to those who have romantic ties with those who have pathological narcissism, what personality traits and challenging behaviors do
these people exhibit?
2. What role do these personality qualities play in the difficult behaviors that partners and family members have reported?

7. Public
References
Campbell, W. K., Brunell, A. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2006). Narcissism, Interpersonal Self-Regulation, and Romantic Relationships: An Agency Model Approach.
Ronningstam, E. (2010). Narcissistic personality disorder: A current review. Current psychiatry reports, 12, 68-75.
Stinson, F. S., Dawson, D. A., Goldstein, R. B., Chou, S. P., Huang, B., Smith

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