The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between self-conscious emotions (shame and guilt), self-criticism and alexithymia with self-injurious behaviors in students

Yasini, Seyed Omid; Kafie, Seyed Mosa; Abolghasemi, Abbas

doi:10.22059/japr.2025.390945.645171

The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between self-conscious emotions (shame and guilt), self-criticism and alexithymia with self-injurious behaviors in students

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Seyed Omid Yasini ¹

seyed mosa kafie ²

abbas abolghasemi ²

¹ Department of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

² Professor of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

10.22059/japr.2025.390945.645171

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between shame, guilt, self-criticism, and alexithymia with self-injurious behaviors in students: the mediating role of self-compassion. This is an applied research and was conducted with a correlational design using the structural equation modeling method. The statistical population of this study was all undergraduate students at the University of Guilan. 508 undergraduate students of the University of Guilan were selected through convenience sampling in the academic year 2024. The research instruments included Non-Suicidal Intentional Self-Injury Scale(SHI),the Self-Conscious Affect Scale (TOSCA-3), the Self-Criticism Scale(LOSC), the Alexithymia Scale (TAS), and the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form(SCS-SF). Data were analyzed using Structural equation model method and bootstrap test using SPSS27 and AMOS24 software.Findings indicated that the proposed model demonstrated a good fit. Additionally, self-compassion played a significant mediating role in the relationship between shame, guilt, self-criticism, and alexithymia with self-injurious behaviors (p < 0.01).These findings suggest that self-compassion can mitigate the negative impact of these factors on self-injurious behaviors. Therefore, self-compassion should be considered in prevention programs, educational interventions, and therapeutic approaches in universities.

Keywords

self-injury behaviors

shame and guilt

self-criticism

alexithymia

self-compassion