Self-compassion is associated with various positive mental health outcomes (Zessin, Dickhäuser, & Garbade, 2015; MacBeth & Gumley, 2012; Neff, 2009), but its origins remain unclear. Some researchers propose that self-compassion may derive from attachment styles (Gilbert, 2009; Gilbert & Procter, 2006; Neff, 2011; Neff & McGeehee, 2010). Studies on attachment and self-compassion indicate that avoidant and anxious attachment may have distinct effects on self-compassion (Wei, Liao, Ku, & Shaffer, 2011; Raque-Bogdan et al., 2011). In this study we have 2 hypothesis. Hypothesis 1: Avoidant and anxious attachment are negatively associated with self-compassion. Hypothesis 2: self-compassion mediate the association between avoidant/anxious attachment and mental health. The study was conducted with 258 Japanese university students. Measures included the ECR-RS (attachment), the Self-Compassion Scale, and the DASS-21 (measuring depression, anxiety, and stress as indicators of mental health). Correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between both avoidant and anxious attachment and depression, anxiety, and stress. Negative correlations were found between self-compassion and avoidant attachment, anxious attachment, depression, and stress. However, no significant correlation was found between self-compassion and anxiety. SEM analysis indicated that self-compassion mediates the relationship between both avoidant and anxious attachment and mental health. Furthermore, the indirect effect of anxious attachment through self-compassion was significantly stronger than that of avoidant attachment. Individuals with avoidant or anxious attachment would have lower self-compassion and experience more depression and stress. While both attachment styles affect mental health through self-compassion, the impact of anxious attachment is stronger.

Authors:
Yushi Chen, Nihon University, Japan
Tatsuya Miyashita, Nihon University, Japan
Takashi Oka, Nihon University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Ms.Yushi Chen is a PhD student at Nihon University in Japan. Yushi Chen’s research focuses on self-compassion, attachment, and mental health.

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