Self-Compassion as a Mediator between Maladaptive Perfectionism and Anxiety in College Students

Murtagh, Simon (2018) Self-Compassion as a Mediator between Maladaptive Perfectionism and Anxiety in College Students. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The purpose of the following study is to investigate whether self-compassion is a mechanism/process underlying the connection between maladaptive perfectionism and anxiety. Therefore, it was hypothesised that self compassion would mediate this maladaptive perfectionism anxiety association which has been extensively reported throughout existing literature. Seventy-nine college students completed a set of four questionnaires: The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R); The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS); The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); and The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Preliminary correlations confirmed that each of these variables were strongly and significantly correlated with one another. Subsequently, two mediation analyses were run, producing both a full and partial mediation. The full mediation was a product of somatic anxiety set as the outcome variable, whereas the partial mediation was consequence to cognitive anxiety thereafter replacing the previous. Findings suggest that maladaptive perfectionism possibly inhibits an individual from engaging in self compassionate thoughts and emotions, rendering the individual susceptible to symptoms of anxiety. Aside from the pronounced implications relevant to the college student population, reinforcing evidence that self compassion is applicable to the therapeutic setting is visible in that promoting self-compassion may assist clinical practices in reducing negative impacts of self criticism, which have been reported to obstruct recovery outcomes in certain individuals.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Cognitive psychology
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2018 10:28
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2018 10:28
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3282

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