Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress and Anxiety to Depression among Portuguese Higher Education Students

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Serrão, C (Author) Other; Valquaresma, A (Author) Other; Rodrigues, AR (Author) Other; Ivone Duarte (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Healthcare

Vol. 11

Final page: 2494

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Z-482

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11182494

Abstract (EN): Higher education is a context that requires students to develop academic, social and institutional tasks. As a result of this complex and multidimensional process, students tend to experience greater stress, anxiety and depression, making it crucial for students to mobilize a set of essential personal, social and instrumental resources, for a more positive adaptation to the academic context. Self-compassion is an adaptative emotion-regulation strategy and may help students to better adjust to academic issues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-compassion as a mediator in the relationship between anxiety and depression, as well as stress and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed through social media. Stress and anxiety were found to be positively related to depression scores and negatively related to self-compassion. A bootstrapped mediation model confirmed the existence of a significant positive partial mediation effect exerted by self-compassion on the relationship between stress and depression (b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.05, 0.18]). The analysis also showed a significant positive partial mediation effect exerted by self-compassion in the relationship between anxiety and depression (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.08, 0.18]). Conclusions: Self-compassion might partially mediate the relationship between stress and depression and between anxiety and depression. Findings underscore self-compassion as a potentially protective factor against negative psychological symptoms. © 2023 by the authors.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11