The reciprocal relations among self‐compassion, and depression among adolescents after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake: A three‐wave cross‐lagged study

Abstract

Background Previous cross‐sectional studies have examined the relationship between self‐compassion and depression. Although it is often implicitly assumed that self‐compassion may increase the vulnerability of an individual to depression, only a few studies have assessed whether self‐compassion is a cause or a consequence of depression or both. Method To examine such reciprocal effects, we assessed self‐compassion and depression via self‐report measures. At the baseline assessment (Time 1, T1), 450 students (M = 13.72, SD = 0.83, 54.2% females) participated 10 months after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake. We reassessed the T1 sample after 6‐ and 12‐month intervals. At Time 2 (T2) assessment, 398 (56.0% female participants) of the Wave 1 participants were retained, and at Time 3 (T3) assessment, 235 (52.5% female participants) of the T1 and T2 participants were retained. Results Cross‐lagged analyses indicated that positive self‐compassion could significantly reduce subsequent depression. However, depression did not significantly predict later positive self‐compassion. Negative self‐compassion at T1 increased depression at T2, but negative self‐compassion at T2 did not significantly predict depression at T3. In addition, positive self‐compassion significantly reduced subsequent negative self‐compassion. Conclusions Positive self‐compassion appears to protect adolescents against depression and maintain this protection over time, whereas negative self‐compassion may worsen depression in adolescents during the initial stages of traumatic events. Additionally, positive self‐compassion may decrease the level of negative self‐compassion.

The relationship between self-compassion, coping style, sleep quality, and depression among college students

“…These two results support our hypothesis 1 and hypothesis 2. This is similar to previous studies, suggesting that individuals with higher levels of self-compassion may have lower levels of depression and better sleep quality ( Hwang et al, 2019 ; Kurebayashi, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2023 ). Based on the self-regulation resource model of health behavior, self-compassion may promote healthy living behaviors such as sleep through adaptive emotions ( Sirois et al, 2015 ).…”

Retrospective ACEs predict complex PTSD symptoms in a large sample of Chinese young adults longitudinally: the moderating role of self-compassion

“…However, there is controversy regarding the reliance on the total score as an indicator of self-compassion. The different dimensions are relatively independent [ 18 , 53 , 54 ] and have distinct effects on individuals’ mental health [ 55 , 56 ]. Previous research has consistently demonstrated that different dimensions of self-compassion exert distinct influences on mental health outcomes, including depression [ 8 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…The different dimensions are relatively independent [ 18 , 53 , 54 ] and have distinct effects on individuals’ mental health [ 55 , 56 ]. Previous research has consistently demonstrated that different dimensions of self-compassion exert distinct influences on mental health outcomes, including depression [ 8 , 56 , 57 ]. Additionally, self-kindness, self-judgment, mindfulness, and isolation subscales have been found to be significant predictors of mental health problems like depression, while common humanity and overidentification did not significantly predict depressive symptoms [ 58 ].…”

“…Individuals with low levels of compassion and self-kindness tend to experience poor psychological adjustment, with isolation being particularly associated with negative emotions [ 59 ]. Recent studies have further highlighted that the positive dimension of self-compassion can alleviate mental health problems, whereas the negative dimension may exacerbate issues such as depression and nonsuicidal self-injury [ 55 , 56 ]. Given this background, our hypothesis suggests that self-judgment, isolation, and overidentification moderate the relationship between ACE and CPTSD symptoms.…”

On the Edge of Psychopathology: Strong Relations Between Reversed Self-compassion and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Young People

“…Due to the primary focus on the total score of the SCS or equivalent scales (Muris & Otgaar, 2022 ), studies on the relative contributions of the separate or combined positive and negative self-compassion components to symptoms of anxiety and/or depression are quite sparse, and this is certainly true when considering research conducted in young people. Notable exceptions concern studies that have employed regression analysis (e.g., Liu et al, 2023 ; Muris et al, 2018 , 2022 ; Stolow et al, 2016 ; Tali et al, 2023 ), which refers to a statistical method that can be used to study the unique relations between a number of independent variables (i.e., various self-compassion components) and a single dependent variable (i.e., anxiety or depression; see Field, 2009 ). Network analysis might provide a valuable alternative way of looking at such correlational data (Hevey, 2018 ).…”