The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Depressive Symptoms: Avoidance and Activation as Mediators

Objectives The objectives of this study were to explore whether avoidance and activation mediate the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms. Research investigating these mechanisms may help identify potential intervention targets for preventing depression. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was employed involving 242 non-clinical Australian adults (188 females, 54 males) ranging from 18 to 76 years (M = 24.99, SD = 9.07). Participants completed online Self-Compassion Scale, Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale, Reward Probability Index, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales. Results Avoidance and activation were found to be significant mediators of the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms. This indicates that self-compassion may influence depressive symptoms through the mechanisms suggested to operate in a behavioral model of depression, specifically avoidance and activation. Conclusions These findings linking self-compassion to activation and avoidance with depressive symptoms are promising. Further research with larger, representative, non-clinical and clinical populations, as well as the collection of prospective data, could help establish the causality of these links.