Psychological Mechanism Of The Effect Of Self-compassion On Hopelessness Depression

Backgrounds:(1) The Hopelessness Theory of Depression is one of the three main cognitive theories of depression, which hypothesizes that negative cognitive style influences the development of depression. Most studies about the theory have focused on risk factors. The resilience literature is younger and smaller in volume. In China, a few studies have introduced the theory.(2) Self-compassion is a product of increasing interchange of ideas between Buddhism and psychology. Self-compassion entails three main components:(a) self-kindness—being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical,(b) common humanity—perceiving one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as separating and isolating, and (c) mindfulness—holding painful thoughts and feelings in balanced awareness rather than over-identifying with them. Self-compassion has consistently been found to be related to well-being. At the same time, self-compassion can be enhanced. Future researches should focus on the relationship and mechanism between self-compassion and certain psychological problem. In China, many researchers have paid attention to the concept.Objectives:(1) To find the future trend of research in hopelessness depression and self-compassion.(2) To investigate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ).(3) To test the psychological mechanism of the effect of self-compassion on hopelessness depression.Methods:(1) The Chinese version of SCS was used to assess660 undergraduate students,50of whom participated in the retest two weeks later. Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) were used as the criteria-related validity instrument.(2) The Chinese version of CSQ was used to assess426college students,60of them participated the retest8weeks later. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) were used as the criteria-related validity instruments.(3) The Chinese version of CSQ-SF was used to assess420college students. Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire (HDSQ) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were used as the criteria-related validity instruments.(4) Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check-list (ASLEC), Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire (HDSQ), and the Short-Form Version of the Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ-SF) were used to assess389college students in a cross-sectional study.(5) Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check-list (ASLEC), Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire (HDSQ), and the Short-Form Version of the Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ-SF) were used to assess318college students in a five-week longitudinal study.Results:(1) Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed the scale was composed of6factors which all supported the structure model; the total score of Self-compassion Scale had significant correlation with the total scores of the scales of self-esteem, satisfaction with life, positive affect, and negative affect. Controlling the scores of self-esteem, there was still significant relationship between the total scores of the scales of self-compassion and satisfaction with life, self-compassion and positive affect, and self-compassion and negative affect; Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of SCS was0.84, test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of SCS was0.89.(2) Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of CSQ was0.94. Test-retest reliability was0.59. The composite score and the highest score of CSQ had significant correlation with BDI and ASQ which were tested in the same time. The correlation of the composite score and the highest score was0.91.(3) Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of CSQ-SF was0.81. The score of CSQ-SF had significant correlation with SCS and HDSQ which were tested in the same time.(4) The cross-sectional study had some results. The total score of SCS had significant negative correlation with the total score of HDSQ. The score of mindfulness had significant negative correlation with the amount of negative life events which reported by participants. Self-compassion was a moderator between negative life events and hopelessness depression. The total score of SCS had significant negative correlation with the total score of CSQ. Negative cognitive style was a moderator between negative life events and hopelessness depression.(5) The five-week longitudinal study had some results. Self-compassion was a moderator between negative life events and hopelessness depression. Self-compassion could predict the amount of negative life events reported by participants. Self-compassion could predict the negative cognitive style when participants faced negative life events. The negative consequences subscale was a moderator between negative life events and hopelessness depression.Conclusions:(1) The Chinese version of SCS has acceptable psychometric quality. It can be used to measure the self-compassion of Chinese college students.(2) The Chinese version of CSQ has acceptable psychometric quality. The composite score has extensive overlap with the highest score.(3) The Chinese version of CSQ-SF has acceptable psychometric quality. It can be used to measure the negative cognitive style of Chinese college students.(4) Self-compassion is a resilience factor of hopelessness depression. The psychological mechanism of the effect of self-compassion on hopelessness depression has three paths. The first path is that self-compassion functions as a moderator between negative life events and hopelessness depression. The second path is that self-compassion reduces the amount of negative events which reported by participants. The third path is that self-compassion has effect on hopelessness depression through affecting negative cognitive style.