Self-Compassion Components and Emotional Regulation Strategies as Predictors of Psychological Distress and Well-Being

Abstract

Self-compassion is a positive self-related construct important in reducing symptoms of psychological distress and enhancing well-being. Self-compassion can be divided into compassionate self-responding (CSR), the ability to respond with self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and mindfulness to one’s failures and negative experiences, and reduced uncompassionate self-responding (RUSR) the capacity to reduce self-judgment, isolation, and overidentification with emotional reactions. The current study was a preliminary investigation which examined the relationships of CSR and RUSR with psychological distress and well-being and explored the possible mediating effects on that relationship of emotional regulation via cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. A sample of 201 adults aged 18 to 73 from an Australian university completed an online survey. Structural equation modelling showed that compared to CSR, RUSR was a stronger predictor of psychological distress and eudaimonic well-being and a weaker predictor of hedonic well-being. Moreover, while emotion regulation strategies were found to mediate the relationships of CSR and RUSR with psychological distress and well-being, these relationships differed according to the outcome being predicted. The findings thus offer meaningful theoretical and treatment implications that provide direction for future research.