Abstract Third-wave psychotherapeutic approaches, which emphasise acceptance and mindfulness, have shown effectiveness in alleviating negative affect. This study examined the role of self-compassion in the relationship between resilience and negative affect, including symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. A cross-sectional design was employed with 494 adults from the general population. Participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Regression analyses indicated that higher resilience was associated with lower levels of negative affect and self-compassion was significantly correlated with both resilience and negative affect. Mediation analyses revealed a significant indirect effect, suggesting that self-compassion is associated with a portion of the variance in the relationship between resilience and negative affect. These findings highlight a notable association between self-compassion, resilience, and emotional distress, suggesting that self-compassion may be a relevant construct for interventions aimed at enhancing psychological wellbeing.
Lajunen et al. (2026) studied this question.