The association between self-compassion, affective temperament, and parental bonding styles

Self-compassion involves providing oneself with support during times of suffering or distress. It plays a significant role in an individual's life and mental well-being. This study aims to examine how affective temperament and parental bonding styles impact self-compassion in healthy participants.

This study investigated the effects of affective temperament and parental bonding style on self-compassion using data from 107 healthy participants. Multiple regression analyses were conducted using the stepwise method, with the total Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) scores as the dependent variable and relevant potential factors, including affective temperament and parental bonding styles, as independent variables. Additionally, subclass analyses were conducted, wherein similar multiple regression analyses were performed with the positive subscales of SCS (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness) and the negative subscales of SCS (self-judgment, isolation, over-identification) individually allocated to dependent factors in each model using the relevant potential factors.

Total SCS scores were significantly and positively associated with hyperthymic temperament and significantly and negatively associated with anxious temperament and maternal overprotection. Subclass analyses revealed that the positive SCS subscales were significantly associated with affective temperaments but not parental bonding styles, with relatively small adjusted R2 values. Conversely, negative SCS subscales were significantly associated with affective temperaments and maternal overprotection, showing relatively large adjusted R2 values.

These findings suggest that self-compassion may be positively associated with hyperthymic temperament and negatively associated with anxious temperament and maternal overprotection in healthy participants.