Self-compassion, depressive symptoms, and well-being : A cross-sectional exploration across athlete status and gender

Abstract

Self-compassion is associated with positive mental health outcomes and may buffer against negative selfevaluations and emotional difficulties. Nevertheless, studies among athletes often explore self-compassion in specific groups in isolation (e.g., women athletes) (Ro<spacing diaeresis>thlin et al., 2019). The aims of this study were to 1) explore whether the relationship between gender and composite scores and specific dimensions of self-compassion (e.g., self-judgement) was moderated by athlete status; and 2) to explore the relationship between different dimensions of self-compassion and self-reported depressive symptoms and well-being among team sport athletes (n = 84, Mage = 22.9 +/- 5.0; 57.1 %men) and non-athletes (n = 189, Mage = 35.5 +/- 5.9; 32.8 %men). For our first aim, the relationship between gender and self-compassion (including specific dimensions) was not moderated by athlete status. However, regardless of gender, athletes reported significantly higher total self-compassion scores and significantly lower scores on specific dimensions of self-compassion, isolation, and over-identification, than nonathletes. For our second aim, self-judgement was positively associated with depressive symptoms in both athletes and non-athletes. Self-judgment was, however, negatively associated with well-being only among athletes, and isolation was negatively correlated with well-being only among non-athletes. Our results suggest that reducing self-judgement may be particularly important for promoting athletes' mental healt