| Research BackgroundRelationship authenticity is a unique experience constructed by individuals in a particular relationship.Individuals differ in the extent to which they express themselves authentically in different relationships because of the different needs in each role and the support resources available to them,and because they are influenced by specific interpersonal interaction scenarios,but previous research has not explored whether there are differences in individuals’ levels of authenticity in different relationships based on a broad range of relationship types.Individual relationship authenticity has important implications for individuals’ psychological well-being and relationship quality.In order to promote relationship authenticity,it is necessary to examine the factors influencing relationship authenticity to provide guidelines for intervention.However,current research has limited examination of factors related to relationship authenticity.Individuals who are self-compassionate may be more authentic with themselves,so does being authentic with oneself reduce individuals’fear of negative evaluations of others and thus increase their level of authenticity when dealing with others?This is a question worth exploring.Objective1.to explore the differences in the levels of authenticity among college students in different relationships(with fathers,mothers,same-sex classmates,and oppositesex classmates)2.To explore the effect of self-compassion on relational authenticity and the mediating role of trait authenticity and fear of negative evaluation.Subject and MethodsStudy 1:METHODS:Using 744 college students as the study subjects,including 211 male and 532 female students,and one subject with missing gender,the Relationship Authenticity Scale was used to measure college students’ relationship authenticity in father relationships,mother relationships,same-sex classmate relationships,and opposite-sex classmate relationships,and a repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in college students’ levels of relationship authenticity in different relationships.RESULTS:The repeated measures ANOVA found a significant main effect of relationship type(F=27.496,p<0.001);a non-significant main effect of gender(F=0.310,p=0.735);and a non-significant gender x relationship type interaction(F=1.263,p=0.286).The results of the multiple comparisons revealed that the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the father was lower than that in the relationship with the mother(p<0.001)and same-sex classmates(p<0.001);the relationship authenticity in the relationship with opposite-sex classmates was lower than that in the relationship with the mother(p<0.001)and same-sex classmates(p<0.001);the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the father and the relationship authenticity in the relationship with There was no statistical difference between the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the father and the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the heterosexual classmates;there was no statistical difference between the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the mother and the relationship authenticity in the relationship with the same-sex classmates.Study 2:Method:the subjects were the same as in study one.The Self-Compassion Scale,the Trait Authenticity Scale,the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale,and the Relationship Authenticity Scale were used to measure individual self-compassion,trait authenticity,fear of negative evaluation,and individual levels of authenticity in various relationships(authenticity in father-son relationships,authenticity in motherson relationships,authenticity in same-sex peer relationships,and authenticity in opposite-sex peer relationships),respectively.Structural equation modeling analysis was used to analyze the mechanisms of trait authenticity and fear of negative evaluation between self-compassion and relational authenticity.Findings:(1)The total effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity(relationship authenticity in relationships with fathers,mothers,same-sex classmates,and opposite-sex classmates as indicators to construct the total relationship authenticity latent variable)was significant(β=0.685,p<0.001)when total relationship authenticity(relationship authenticity in relationships with fathers,mothers,same-sex classmates,and opposite-sex classmates)was used as the dependent variable.The results of the intermediate effects analysis showed that both the indirect effect(β=0.363,95%confidence interval[0.130,0.596])and the direct effect of self-compassion on relational authenticity were significant(β=0.322,p<0.05).Self-compassion can enhance relational authenticity by increasing trait authenticity.(2)The total effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity(β=0.357,p<0.05)was significant when authenticity in the relationship with the father was included as the dependent variable.The results of the mediation effect analysis showed that the direct effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity(β=0.231,p<0.05)was significant,but the mediation effect was not significant(β=0.126,95%confidence interval[-0.039,0.291]).(3)The total effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity(β=0.322,p<0.01)was significant when relationship authenticity in the relationship with the mother was taken as the dependent variable.The results of the mediation effects analysis showed that the direct effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity was significant(β=0.268,p<0.01)and the mediation effect was not significant(β=0.054,95%confidence interval[-0.117,0.225]).However,the partial mediating effect of trait authenticity,fear of negative evaluation between self-compassion and relationship authenticity was significant(β=-0.145,95%confidence interval[-0.260,0.031]).Thus,self-compassion can reduce fear of negative evaluation and thus relationship authenticity by increasing trait authenticity.(4)The total effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity was significant(β=0.447,p<0.01)when relationship authenticity in relationships with classmates of the opposite sex was taken as the dependent variable.The results of the mediation effect analysis showed that the mediation effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity was significant(β=0.321,95%confidence interval[0.096,0.547])and the direct effect was not significant(β=0.126,p=0.305>0.05).The partial mediating effect of trait authenticity between self-compassion and relational authenticity was significant(β=0.338,95%confidence interval[0.054,0.622]).Thus,self-compassion can enhance relational authenticity by increasing trait authenticity.(5)The total effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity was significant(P=0.450,p<0.01)when relationship authenticity in a relationship with a same-sex person was taken as the dependent variable.The results of the mediation effects analysis showed that the direct effect of self-compassion on relationship authenticity was significant(P=0.382,p<0.001)and the mediation effect was not significant(β=0.068,95%confidence interval[-0.117,0.253]).However,the partial mediating effect of trait authenticity,fear of negative evaluation between selfcompassion and relational authenticity was significant(β=-0.179,95%confidence interval[-0.303,-0.055]);the partial mediating effect of trait authenticity between self-compassion and relational authenticity was significant(β=0.241,95%confidence interval[0.004,0.478]).Thus,self-compassion can both reduce fear of negative evaluations and thus reduce relational authenticity by increasing trait authenticity and enhance relational authenticity by increasing trait authenticity.Conclusion(1)There were differences in college students’ levels of authenticity in different relationships,with both males and females showing the same pattern of differences;there were no gender differences in levels of authenticity in different relationships.(2)In all relationship types,self-compassion was positively correlated with relationship authenticity.(3)In relationships with heterosexual classmates,same-sex classmates,and the total relationship latent variable,self-compassion enhanced individual authenticity in relationships by increasing trait authenticity.(4)In relationships with mothers and same-sex classmates,self-compassion reduced fear of negative evaluations and thus reduced relationship authenticity by increasing trait authenticity. |
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