Tanaka, M., Wekerle, C., Schmuck, M.L., & Paglia-Boak, A. (2011). The linkages among childhood maltreatment, adolescent mental health, and self-compassion in child welfare adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35(10), 887–898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.07.003
Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for poor physical and mental health. This study explored the relationship between child maltreatment and self-compassion. Self-compassion was defined as a concept of positive acceptance of the self. The present sample was taken from the Maltreatment and Adolescent Pathways (MAP) Longitudinal Study. A total of 117 youths completed the self-compassion scale within the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Results suggest youth who had experienced higher childhood emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical abuse had lower self-compassion than those who experienced lower levels of these types of maltreatment. Youth with low self-compassion were found to have higher levels of psychological distress, problematic alcohol use, and report a serious suicide attempt. Authors suggest exploring self-compassion further in order to better understand the impact of childhood emotional abuse.