Published Paper Details:

In the digital age, university students are increasingly immersed in online environments that reward self-promotion, constant connectivity, and social validation. This study investigates how narcissistic traits--specifically grandiose and vulnerable narcissism--relate to psychological distress, with digital overload (nomophobia and social media addiction) acting as a mediating factor. Drawing on data from 200 university students, we employed the N2 Scale to measure narcissism, DASS-21 for psychological distress, NPPT for personality prototypes, and IPDE screening for borderline features. Results indicate that vulnerable narcissism is a strong predictor of distress, particularly when mediated by compulsive digital behaviours. Furthermore, personality prototypes such as overcontrolled and undercontrolled styles, along with borderline traits, significantly moderate the strength of these relationships. The findings suggest that digital overload is not merely a behavioural issue but a psychological pathway shaped by deeper personality structures. This research contributes to the emerging field of digital psychopathology and offers practical implications for mental health interventions tailored to personality profiles in academic settings.