Self-compassion protects against the negative effects of low self-esteem: A longitudinal study in a large adolescent sample |
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| Institution: | 1. Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Largo da Cruz de Celas, n°1, 3000-132 Coimbra, Portugal;2. CINEICC, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal;1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1;2. Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John''s, Newfoundland, Canada, A1B 3X9 |
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| Abstract: | Low self-esteem is usually linked to negative outcomes such as poor mental health, but is this always the case? Based on a contextual behavioural model, we reasoned that self-compassion would weaken the link between low self-esteem and low mental health. Self-compassion involves accepting self-doubt, negative self-evaluations and adversity as part of the human condition. In a longitudinal study of 2448 Australian adolescents, we assessed how self-esteem interacted with self-compassion in Grade 9 to predict changes in mental health over the next year. As hypothesized, self-compassion moderated the influence of self-esteem on mental health. Amongst those high in self-compassion, low self-esteem had little effect on mental health, suggesting a potentially potent buffering affect. We discuss the possibility that fostering self-compassion among adolescents can reduce their need for self-esteem in situations that elicit self-doubt. |
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| Keywords: | Self-esteem Self-compassion Mental health Adolescents Longitudinal |
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