Don't be so hard on yourself! Changes in self-compassion during the first year of university are associated with changes in well-being

Introduction: Well-being declines during the first year of university. We examined if change in self-compassion was indirectly related to change in well-being through change in psychological need satisfaction during the first year of university. Methods: First year university students (N = 189, 77.2% female) completed self-report questionnaires at the beginning of the first semester and approximately five months later. Path analysis and bootstrapping procedures were used to examine residualized change scores. Results: Change in self-compassion was positively related to (ps < 0.05) change in psychological need satisfaction beta = 0.49) and negatively related to change in negative affect (beta = -0.24). Change in psychological need satisfaction was positively associated (ps < 0.05) with change in vitality (beta = 0.58) and change in positive affect (beta = 0.52) and negatively associated with change in negative affect (beta = -0.29). Change in self-compassion was indirectly related to change in vitality (b = 0.56, 95% bootstrapped bias corrected confidence interval (BcCD[0.38, 0.771), positive affect (b = 0.41, 95%BcCI [0.27, 0.581), and negative affect (b = -0.26, 95%BcCl[0.41, - 0.131) through change in psychological need satisfaction. Conclusions: During the first year of university, change in self-compassion was associated with change in wellbeing because self-compassion enhanced psychological need satisfaction. Results highlight the potential of enhancing self-compassion during first year university to help mitigate student declines in well-being. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.