Self-compassion as mediator between coping and social anxiety in late adolescence: A longitudinal analysis

Introduction: Previous research uncovered that self-compassion is related to coping strategies elicited during stressful situations, and might also contribute to less biased perceptions of social situations. Hence, the current study's objective was to investigate longitudinally the mediator role of self-compassion in the relation between coping and social anxiety in late adolescence, with emphasis on the first months of adjustment to college life. Methods: The sample included 63 first-year students (75% women) from Romania with a mean age of 18.76 years. They filled out the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory at Time 1 (beginning of the first semester), as well as the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form and the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Short Form at both T1 and Time 2 (3 months after the baseline assessment). Results: The results of the mediation analyses showed that both approach and avoidant coping at T1 exhibited a significant indirect effect on social anxiety levels at T2 through self-compassion measured at T2 controlling for the effects of gender, self-compassion and social anxiety at T1. These findings suggested that approach coping increases the likelihood of more compassionate views of oneself, which are likely to contribute to less social anxiety; conversely, avoidant coping decreases self-compassionate attitudes, which in turn increase social anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These results provided added evidence to the fact that during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, teaching college students a more self-accepting and kind perspective on one's imperfections could play a significant role in preventing and treating social anxiety.