Abstract
Objectives
Although childhood maltreatment is negatively linked with the quality of adult intimate relationships, only relatively scant research has addressed the mechanisms underlying this link, focusing mainly on negative psychological processes. The role of positive processes in this link has been little explored, especially among non-clinical samples. The current study sought to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the association between childhood maltreatment and relationship satisfaction.
Method
A convenience sample of 667 individuals drawn from a larger sample from an online survey in which they reported being in an intimate relationship answered self-report questionnaires.
Results
Childhood maltreatment was indeed indirectly negatively linked with satisfaction with intimate relationships through the (partial) mediation of self-compassion. Thus, childhood maltreatment was negatively linked with self-compassion, which in turn was positively linked to satisfaction with intimate relationships.
Conclusions
These findings provide a further example of the mediating role of self-compassion, an important transdiagnostic protective factor related to elevated satisfaction with intimate relationships. The findings highlight the potential contribution of mindfulness and compassion-based programs with survivors of childhood maltreatment who are presumably at risk for dissatisfaction with intimate relationships.
Preregistration
This study was not preregistered.
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Data Availability
All data are available in https://osf.io/npyh5/?view_only=35869f34e453427e8b1670a29881a4c7.
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Funding
This project received funding from the Haruv Institute. The Haruv Institute did not take any part in the study except of providing seed money.
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Dana Lassri: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, validation, formal analysis, visualization, investigation, writing — original draft, writing — review and editing, funding acquisition, project administration.
Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan: investigation, writing — review and editing, funding acquisition, project administration.
Osnat Zamir: writing — review and editing.
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The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ethical Review Board approved all procedures and instruments.
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Dana Lassri is also an affiliated researcher at the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL (University College London), London, UK
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Lassri, D., Gewirtz-Meydan, A. & Zamir, O. The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion Between Childhood Maltreatment and Satisfaction with Intimate Relationships. Mindfulness 14, 970–978 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02107-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02107-6