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

Narcissistic parenting has been theoretically associated with emotional invalidation, attachment disturbances, and heightened vulnerability to personality pathology. However, the biopsychological mechanisms linking early relational experiences to later personality-related difficulties remain insufficiently understood. This study protocol outlines a planned convergent mixed-methods pilot investigation examining the relationship between perceived narcissistic parenting, borderline personality traits, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning.The study will recruit adults aged 18–35 who report elevated borderline personality features and retrospective experiences of narcissistic parental behaviors. A convergent mixed-methods design will be employed to integrate quantitative psychological assessments, physiological indicators of ANS regulation, and qualitative accounts of lived emotional experiences. Quantitative measures will assess perceived parenting style, borderline personality traits, emotion dysregulation, stress, and anxiety. Physiological functioning will be indexed through heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of autonomic flexibility and regulatory capacity. Semi-structured interviews will further explore participants’ subjective experiences of parental emotional environments, coping strategies, and interpersonal patterns.Data collection has not yet commenced. This protocol describes the theoretical framework, methodological procedures, and planned analytical approach for a future empirical phase. By integrating self-report, physiological, and narrative data, the study aims to advance understanding of how narcissistic parenting may contribute to both emotional vulnerability and biological stress dysregulation associated with borderline personality traits. Findings may inform trauma-informed and psychophysiologically oriented clinical interventions targeting emotion regulation and relational functioning.