Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of social safeness and self-compassion, as two essential components of Gilbert’s theory, in mental health. In this regard and based on theoretical foundations, the mediation model of the relationship between social safeness and mental health problems was examined through self-compassion as a mediator.
Methods: A total of 344 students from the University of Bojnord, Bojnord City, Iran, in the 2019-2020 academic year were recruited using the cluster sampling method. They were responded to the social safeness and pleasure scale, self-compassion scale (short form), and depression, anxiety, and stress scale. The obtained data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Results: The mediation model showed a good fit (χ2⁄df: 1.77; RMSEA: 0.043; CFI: 0.99; GFI: 0.98; AGFI: 0.96; NFI: 0.98; TLI: 0.98). Beta coefficients indicate significant direct effect of social safeness on self-compassion (Beta=0.57; P≤0.001), significant direct effect of self-compassion on mental health problems (Beta=-0.75; P≤0.001), as well as a significant indirect effect of social safeness on mental health problems (Beta=-0.42; P≤0.001).
Conclusion: Social safeness affects mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress) through self-compassion as a mediator. A high sense of social safeness protects against depression, anxiety, and stress through increasing self-compassion. However, low social safeness increases vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and stress by reducing self-compassion.
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Social safeness has negative relationships with depression, anxiety, and stress.
● Self-compassion has negative relationships with depression, anxiety, and stress.
● Social safeness is negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress through self-compassion as a mediator.
Plain Language Summary
Gilbert’s theory suggests a three-part emotional system. The first system (threat system) is sensitive to the signs of threat and evokes negative emotions such as anxiety and anger to protect the person. The second system (drive system) is sensitive to the signs of rewards and evokes active, positive emotions such as vitality and excitement. The third system (soothing system) is sensitive to the signs of warmth and affiliation and produces lower arousal positive emotions such as calmness, contentment, and safeness. When this system is activated, one perceives the social world as safe, warm, and soothing. This emotional state is called social safeness that plays an essential role in mental health. Also, individuals with lower levels of social safeness fail to show self-compassion (compassionate behavior and attitude toward oneself), which in turn leads to mental health problems. The present study examined a model in which social safeness is related to mental health problems (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) through self-compassion. A total of 344 students participated in the research. According to the results, social safety and self-compassion have negative relationships with depression, anxiety, and stress. Also, social safeness is associated with low depression, anxiety, and stress through self-compassion. So it is recommended that mental disorders prevention and treatment programs consider self-compassion a vital component.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Cognitive behavioral Received: 2021/04/10 | Accepted: 2021/08/21 | Published: 2021/07/19