The Dark Triad traits and suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents: Mediation by social alienation

The Dark Triad represent three aversive personality traits (i.e., Psychopathy, Narcissism, and Machiavellianism) that share a dark core. Previous studies found that these traits related to various interpersonal problems. However, few studies investigated the impact of the Dark Triad on suicidal ideation. Using a bifactor model to construct the structure of the Dark Triad, current study explored the effects of the Dark Triad on suicidal ideation, and the mediating effect of social alienation. Participants were 1,689 Chinese adolescents. They completed self-report questionnaires regarding the study variables in two waves, 6 months apart. Results indicated that the dark core and Machiavellianism affected suicidal ideation through social alienation. Findings of this study underscored how Dark Triad traits lead to suicidal ideation.