Self-compassion and life satisfaction: The mediating role of hope

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 98; pp. 91 - 95
• Main Authors: Yang, Ying, Zhang, Mengyuan, Kou, Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Hope; Life satisfaction; Self-compassion; Well-being; Well-being; Self-compassion; Hope; Life satisfaction
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.03.086

The present study investigated the relationship between self-compassion, hope and life satisfaction in a sample of Chinese adults. Three hundred and twenty adults completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the State Hope Scale (SHS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The structural equation model's results showed that self-compassion was positively associated with hope and life satisfaction, that hope was positively associated with life satisfaction, and also that hope fully mediated the positive relationship between self-compassion and life satisfaction. Additionally, multi-group analyses showed that the structural model was not moderated by gender or age. The present study highlights the mediating role of hope as an underlying mechanism between self-compassion and life satisfaction. The theoretical and practical implications, as well as the limitations of the present study, are discussed. •Self-compassion was positively associated with hope.•Self-compassion was positively associated with life satisfaction.•Hope fully mediated the positive relationship between self-compassion and life satisfaction.•The multi-group analyses indicated that the structural model was not moderated by gender or age.