HEAL, NOT HARM: SELF-COMPASSION AND PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AS MEDIATING FACTORS FOR NONSUICIDAL SELF-INJURY AND DEPRESSION

Abstract

This study examines the mediating effects of self-compassion and perceived social support on the relationship between predictor variables trait mindfulness and childhood invalidation, and outcome variables nonsuicidal self-injury and depression. The effects of gender were also considered. 161 participant responses to questionnaires assessing nonsuicidal self-injurious tendencies, depressive symptomatology, trait mindfulness, self-compassion, perceived social support, and experiences of childhood invalidation were collated for this study. A conceptual model was hypothesized based on existing literature, on the paths between variables. Path analysis, a subset of Structural Equation Modelling was then conducted to test the validity of the proposed model. Analyses revealed that trait mindfulness had a positive effect on self-compassion and perceived social support. Childhood invalidation was only significantly correlated with self-compassion and not with perceived social support. Self-compassion was significantly negatively correlated with depression, but not with NSSI. The results demonstrate the strong mediating effects of self-compassion, and perceived social support to a lesser extent, and further our understanding of factors that can reduce NSSI engagement, and depressive symptomatology.