Daughters Of Narcissistic Mothers Are More Likely To Struggle With Emotional Balance, Study Finds

Children who grow up with emotionally self-centered mothers may carry the effects well into adulthood. New research suggests that young women who perceive their mothers as highly narcissistic are more likely to struggle with emotional stability, potentially affecting how they cope with stress, relationships, and major life transitions.

The study, conducted at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, found a clear association between perceived maternal narcissism and lower emotional balance among female university students. The findings add to growing evidence that subtle forms of emotional neglect can have long-lasting consequences for psychological well-being.

How Narcissistic Parenting Can Affect Children

Narcissism is typically characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a strong need for admiration, and limited empathy for others. Individuals with pronounced narcissistic traits often prioritize their own needs and emotions, sometimes at the expense of those around them.

Within families, narcissistic parents may view their children as extensions of themselves rather than as independent individuals with their own identities, needs, and emotions. Emotional support may become conditional, offered only when a child behaves in ways that reinforce the parent's expectations or self-image.

Over time, children raised in these environments may learn to suppress their own emotions to avoid criticism, conflict, or rejection. They may become highly focused on pleasing others while neglecting their own emotional needs.

Psychologists note that these early patterns can persist into adulthood, making it more difficult to recognize emotions, establish boundaries, and maintain healthy relationships.

What Emotional Balance Really Means

Emotional balance refers to the ability to manage emotions effectively during stressful situations without becoming overwhelmed by extreme mood swings or impulsive reactions.

People with strong emotional regulation skills are generally better able to calm themselves, maintain perspective, and respond constructively to challenges. They are often more resilient when facing setbacks, interpersonal conflicts, or periods of uncertainty.

From a cognitive psychology perspective, emotional difficulties frequently arise when people interpret situations through distorted or exaggerated thought patterns. Learning to identify and challenge these thoughts forms the foundation of many evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression.

Behavioral psychology offers a complementary perspective, focusing on how individuals respond to stress through their actions. Emotional imbalance may manifest as withdrawal, aggression, avoidance, or other unhealthy coping behaviors that can ultimately intensify psychological distress.

For university students, emotional regulation becomes especially important. Academic pressure, changing social networks, financial concerns, and increasing independence all place significant demands on coping skills during early adulthood.

Inside The Saudi University Study

To better understand the role of family dynamics in emotional adjustment, psychologists Entesar Alnashmi and Hanem M. Alboray conducted a study involving 416 female students between the ages of 18 and 24 at King Faisal University.

Participants were recruited from a variety of academic programs, including business administration and agricultural sciences. Data were collected over a three-month period using anonymous online and paper questionnaires.

To assess maternal narcissism, the researchers developed a specialized instrument called the Narcissistic Mother Scale. Students rated how frequently their mothers displayed traits such as dominance, superiority, entitlement, arrogance, emotional reactivity, and other narcissistic characteristics.

The researchers also designed an Emotional Balance Scale to evaluate participants’ ability to regulate emotions in both personal and social situations. The measure assessed factors such as emotional consistency, cognitive harmony, and the ability to tolerate conflicting emotions during stressful experiences.

Overall, most participants rated their mothers relatively low on narcissistic traits. The exception was emotional excitability, which fell within a moderate range. Emotional balance scores among the students were also generally moderate, suggesting both strengths and vulnerabilities in emotional functioning.

The Strongest Predictors Of Emotional Difficulties

When researchers analyzed the data, a clear pattern emerged.

Higher levels of perceived maternal narcissism were associated with lower levels of emotional balance among daughters. In other words, the more narcissistic traits participants observed in their mothers, the more likely they were to report difficulties managing emotions.

Among all narcissistic characteristics examined, intolerance emerged as the strongest predictor of emotional imbalance.

This trait reflects a parent's inability to accept differences, mistakes, or emotional needs that conflict with their own expectations. Children raised in such environments may learn that acceptance depends on compliance rather than authenticity.

The second strongest predictor was exploitative behavior.

Mothers who use others to satisfy their own needs without considering their well-being may unintentionally teach children to ignore their own limits and priorities. As adults, these daughters may continue prioritizing others while struggling to identify and meet their own emotional needs.

Attachment Theory Helps Explain The Findings

The researchers interpreted their results through the lens of attachment theory, one of the most influential frameworks in developmental psychology.

According to attachment theory, children need consistent emotional support from caregivers in order to develop trust, self-worth, and healthy emotional regulation skills.

When caregivers are emotionally unavailable, unpredictable, or excessively self-focused, children may experience a form of emotional neglect. While this neglect is often subtle and does not involve overt abuse, its effects can be significant.

Children may feel unseen, misunderstood, or emotionally abandoned despite having their physical needs fully met. These experiences can contribute to feelings of insecurity and loneliness that continue into adulthood.

Psychologists note that many children of narcissistic parents develop survival strategies that later become obstacles. They may struggle to set boundaries, express negative emotions, or recognize unhealthy relationship dynamics because they learned early on that their needs were less important than maintaining peace and approval.

Important Limitations

The authors emphasize that the study has several limitations.

First, all data were based on daughters’ perceptions rather than clinical assessments of their mothers. The research therefore cannot determine whether the mothers actually met diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality traits.

Second, the study was correlational, meaning it cannot prove that maternal narcissism directly causes emotional imbalance. It can only demonstrate that the two factors are associated.

Finally, all participants were female students attending a single university in Saudi Arabia. Cultural expectations surrounding family relationships, motherhood, and emotional expression may differ considerably in other regions.

Future studies involving more diverse populations will be necessary to determine whether the findings generalize across cultures.

Why The Findings Matter

Despite these limitations, the results are consistent with previous studies conducted in both Western and Asian populations. Earlier research has similarly linked narcissistic parenting with higher rates of anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and interpersonal difficulties among adult children.

The authors argue that universities and mental health professionals should pay closer attention to family background when supporting young adults. Counseling programs that teach emotional awareness, healthy boundaries, self-compassion, and cognitive coping strategies may be especially valuable for students who grew up in emotionally challenging family environments.

The researchers also hope the study encourages greater awareness among parents about the lasting impact of empathy, emotional support, and respect for a child's individuality.

Their findings suggest that even subtle parenting patterns can continue to shape emotional well-being years later, influencing how daughters manage stress, relationships, and their sense of self as adults.

Prepared by Victoria Caldwell