Longitudinal Associations Among Hope, Self-Compassion, Anxiety, and Depression in College Students

This three-wave longitudinal study employed separate cross-lagged panel models to examine the temporal associations among hope, self-compassion, and mental health outcomes (anxiety and depression) among Chinese college students (N = 445). Data collected over three time points at six-month intervals revealed reciprocal positive prediction between hope and self-compassion, indicating that these psychological resources may mutually sustain each other over time. Additionally, self-compassion consistently predicted lower subsequent levels of both anxiety and depression, while anxiety demonstrated a negative predictive effect on later self-compassion. Longitudinal mediation analyses suggested that self-compassion served as a significant pathway through which hope was associated with subsequent reductions in both anxiety and depression. These findings highlight the longitudinal link between hope and self-compassion and underscore self-compassion's role as a potential protective factor against emotional distress. The study provides empirical support for integrating hope and self-compassion into targeted interventions aimed at addressing anxiety and depression in college student populations.