The Link Between Psychological Maltreatment and Resilience, Self-Compassion As a Mediator: A Longitudinal Study

Researching the concepts of psychological maltreatment and resilience is crucial for understanding how early adversities impact mental health and how individuals can adapt and thrive despite these challenges. The aim of the present study is to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between psychological maltreatment and resilience within a longitudinal design. For this purpose, data was collected from 255 adults in two time periods at 3-month intervals. The sample consists of 163 women (63.9%) and 92 men (36.1%), with an average age of 22.68 years (SD = 5.3). A cross-lagged panel model was used within the scope of the research. The cross-lagged panel model allows the examination of the proposed research model and the determination of temporal changes in the variables. The research findings indicate that there are significant longitudinal relationships among the study variables, and that self-compassion plays a longitudinal mediating role in the relationship between psychological maltreatment and resilience. This finding underscores the critical role of self-compassion in buffering the negative effects of psychological maltreatment, potentially enhancing resilience over time.