Self-compassion, social cognition, and self-affect in adolescence: A longitudinal study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study examined the longitudinal association of social cognition (Theory of Mind, empathy) and self-affect (self-conscious emotions) with 99 adolescents’ positive and negative dimensions of self-compassion over two years (T1: 10.75 years, T2: 12.08 years). For the total sample, analysis showed no relations among variables, but separate gender analysis revealed differences in correlational patterns. For boys only, self-coldness negatively predicted affective Theory of Mind or the ability to recognize emotions in others. For girls only, affective Theory of Mind predicted an increase in blaming others for transgressions. Higher levels of the ability to recognize emotions in others failed to foster self-kindness and compassion. Decoding others’ emotions may protect adolescent girls from self-judgement, and boys from self-coldness.