This study investigated the association between dark personality traits, burnout, and indirect aggression in a non-clinical adult population. Specifically, it aimed to explore not only the direct relationship between dark traits and relational aggression but also the moderating role of burnout in this association.

The sample comprised predominantly young adults with an approximately equal gender distribution (51% male, 48% female). A large proportion were single (83%) and highly educated, with 50% being graduates and 32% having completed postgraduate education. In terms of occupational status, 32.5% were unemployed, while 31.5% were employed in professional roles. Over half of the sample (57%) reported a monthly income of ₹1,00,000 or more, placing them in a higher income bracket (Appendices A-C).

Findings indicated a moderate presence of socially aversive personality traits within this non-clinical sample. Among the dark triad components, narcissism had the highest mean score (28.64, SD = 5.49), followed by Machiavellianism (27.27, SD = 4.62) and psychopathy (22.71, SD = 5.50). This pattern aligns with existing literature, which consistently reports that narcissistic and Machiavellian traits are more prevalent than psychopathy in general populations, given the latter’s association with overt antisocial behavior [4,18] (Table 1).

The average burnout score was 39.68 (SD = 7.89), with mean subscale scores of 19.83 (SD = 4.44) for exhaustion and 19.85 (SD = 4.45) for disengagement. These values reflect moderate levels of burnout, consistent with previous studies conducted among young adults and students in demanding environments, where prolonged psychological stress and emotional fatigue are increasingly reported [19,20]. Relational aggression scores averaged 43.35 (SD = 11.76), with higher contributions from the domains of malicious humor (15.64, SD = 5.71) and social exclusion (17.06, SD = 5.98), while guilt induction was comparatively lower (10.66, SD = 4.22). These findings resonate with prior research suggesting that among high-functioning populations, such as educated young adults, aggression is more likely to manifest in covert, socially manipulative forms rather than through overt physical or verbal means [21] (Table 1).

Subgroup analyses indicated that male participants scored significantly higher than females on psychopathy, as well as on all three dimensions of indirect aggression-guilt induction, malicious humor, and social exclusion. This is congruent with literature documenting gender-based differences, where males tend to display greater levels of antagonism, emotional detachment, and manipulativeness - traits characteristic of psychopathy and Machiavellianism [22,23].

Regarding substance use, 11% of participants reported a history of use, primarily involving alcohol and cannabis. These individuals demonstrated significantly higher levels of aggression compared to non-users (p = 0.042). Among them, cannabis users reported the highest mean aggression score (M = 58.80), followed by alcohol users (M = 51.73), while tobacco users exhibited the lowest aggression levels (M = 32.50), despite experiencing higher levels of burnout. However, comparisons between individual substance groups and non-users did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to limited subgroup sizes. These findings are consistent with prior research linking cannabis use with increased impulsivity, irritability, and emotional dysregulation [24].

Group comparisons based on combinations of dark traits and burnout levels revealed that individuals high in dark traits exhibited greater indirect aggression, particularly when emotional depletion was low. Conversely, those in the low trait-high burnout group had the lowest aggression scores, suggesting that burnout, in the absence of pronounced trait vulnerability, may dampen interpersonal reactivity (Table 2). Post hoc analyses (Games-Howell) confirmed significantly higher aggression in the high trait-low burnout group compared to both low trait groups (p < 0.05). Among individuals with high dark traits, those with high burnout demonstrated slightly lower aggression, although the difference was not always statistically significant (Table 3).

To further investigate the conditional nature of this relationship, a moderation analysis was conducted with burnout as a moderator. Regression analysis indicated that while dark traits significantly predicted aggression, burnout alone did not. However, the interaction term (dark traits × burnout) approached significance, suggesting a potential moderating role. Bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples confirmed the robustness of this interaction, lending support to the hypothesis that burnout moderates the relationship between dark traits and aggression. Specifically, as burnout levels increased, the association between dark traits and aggression weakened, corroborating earlier group-based findings (Table 4).

To provide further clarity, the Johnson-Neyman technique was employed. This analysis demonstrated that the association between dark traits and aggression was statistically significant only at low to moderate levels of burnout (up to approximately +0.4 SD above the mean) and became non-significant at higher burnout levels (Figure 2). This finding supports the conceptualization of burnout not merely as a state of emotional exhaustion but also as a potential inhibitory mechanism against the enactment of socially harmful behaviors. Although Indian research has primarily focused on burnout in academic and occupational contexts [19], emerging studies have begun to explore its emotional blunting effects [25]. Scholars such as Bianchi et al. [10] and Schaufeli and Taris [11] have described burnout as a state of emotional depletion, which may limit an individual’s capacity to engage in manipulative or aggressive behaviors, even among those with elevated dark trait profiles. These findings thus lend support to integrated trait-state behavioral models. In clinical psychiatry, they highlight the importance of assessing both dispositional traits and current emotional states such as burnout during diagnostic evaluations, particularly in individuals who appear well-functioning yet present with persistent interpersonal difficulties. Such comprehensive assessment approaches may enhance risk evaluation, inform treatment planning, and promote early intervention in personality-related behavioral disturbances.

The strong association observed between dark personality traits and relational aggression underlines the relevance of personality screening in clinical settings, especially among young adults who may not present with formal psychopathology but experience chronic interpersonal dysfunction. These personality traits are often overlooked in standard assessments, yet existing evidence suggests that they can predict poor therapeutic alliance, treatment non-adherence, and relational conflict [26].

Furthermore, the current findings suggest that emotional exhaustion may temporarily suppress the behavioral expression of dark traits. However, as burnout resolves, the risk of resurgent aggressive behaviors may increase. This underscores the importance of multifaceted clinical interventions aimed at not only reducing burnout but also addressing the underlying personality dynamics that contribute to maladaptive interpersonal patterns. Therapeutic modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy and schema therapy may prove particularly useful in this context, as they are designed to enhance interpersonal functioning and emotional regulation skills among individuals with personality vulnerabilities [27,28].

This study’s cross-sectional design limits causal interpretations, and reliance on self-report measures may introduce bias. Although individuals with major neuropsychiatric illness were excluded, some participants reported occasional alcohol or cannabis use, which may act as a potential confounder, particularly for traits such as aggression or psychopathy. Additionally, the sample was predominantly urban, educated, and high-income, limiting generalizability. Detailed substance use patterns were not assessed.

Future research should explore in greater depth the roles of gender and substance use in moderating the link between dark personality traits and relational aggression. Longitudinal studies are essential to examine the dynamic interplay between dark traits and burnout over time and to determine whether recovery from burnout facilitates the reactivation of previously suppressed aggressive behaviors. In particular, clinical intervention-based longitudinal studies are needed to assess how targeted therapeutic strategies can mitigate the expression of relational aggression in individuals exhibiting both high dark traits and burnout.