A Convergent Mixed-Methods Investigation of Narcissistic Parenting, Borderline Personality Traits, and Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation in Young Adults

Early caregiving environments play a critical role in shaping emotional development, interpersonal functioning, and long-term psychological well-being. Among maladaptive parenting patterns, narcissistic parenting has been increasingly discussed as a relational context characterized by emotional invalidation, conditional regard, role reversal, and a lack of empathic attunement to the child’s needs. Exposure to such environments may contribute to the development of emotional dysregulation, unstable self-concept, and heightened interpersonal sensitivity—features commonly associated with borderline personality traits. However, the mechanisms through which narcissistic parenting may influence both psychological vulnerability and physiological stress regulation remain insufficiently understood. The present study protocol outlines a convergent mixed-methods investigation designed to examine the relationships among perceived narcissistic parenting, borderline personality traits, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning in young adults. From a biopsychosocial perspective, chronic exposure to emotionally unpredictable or invalidating caregiving environments may shape not only emotional and cognitive processes but also stress-responsive biological systems. In particular, autonomic dysregulation—often indexed through reduced heart rate variability (HRV)—has been linked to difficulties in emotional regulation, trauma exposure, and personality pathology. Integrating psychological and physiological domains may therefore provide a more comprehensive understanding of the embodied impact of early relational stress. The quantitative component of the study will assess perceived narcissistic parenting, borderline personality traits, and related psychological constructs using standardized self-report measures. Physiological indicators of ANS functioning, including resting heart rate and HRV, will be collected under controlled conditions. It is hypothesized that higher levels of perceived narcissistic parenting will be associated with elevated borderline personality traits, which in turn will be related to reduced HRV and greater autonomic dysregulation. Mediation analyses will examine whether borderline personality traits statistically account for the relationship between early caregiving experiences and physiological stress regulation. To complement the quantitative findings, a qualitative component will involve semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample of participants. These interviews will explore individuals’ lived emotional, relational, and embodied experiences associated with being raised by a narcissistic parent. The qualitative analysis will provide in-depth insight into meaning-making processes, emotional patterns, and perceived links between psychological stress and bodily responses, thereby enriching interpretation of the quantitative results. By integrating self-report data, physiological measures, and personal narratives, this study aims to advance understanding of how narcissistic parenting may contribute to both psychological and biological vulnerability associated with borderline personality traits. The findings are expected to inform integrative models of emotional and autonomic regulation and may have implications for trauma-informed and psychophysiologically oriented clinical interventions.