SELF-COMPASSION AND AUTOMATIC THOUGHTS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between self-compassion and automatic thoughts. Participants were 299 university students. In this study, the Self-compassion Scale and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire were used. The relationships between self-compassion and automatic thoughts were examined using correlation analysis and the hypothesis model was tested through structural equation modeling. In correlation analysis, self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness factors of self-compassion were found negatively related to automatic thoughts. On the other hand, self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification factors of self-compassion were found positively correlated to automatic thoughts. The model demonstrated excellent fit (chi 2 = 0.05, p = .03832, GFI = 1.00, AGFI = .96, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 1.00, IFI = 1.00, RFI = .97, SRMR = .014, and RMSEA = .038) and also accounted for 39% of the automatic thoughts variances. According to path analysis results, automatic thoughts were predicted negatively by self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. On the other hand, self-judgment and over-identification predicted automatic thoughts in a positive way. However, the path from isolation to automatic thoughts wasn't significant. Results were discussed in the light of the related literature.