The Relationship between Self-Compassion and Mental Health in Naresuan University Students
Annop Mingkwan MSc1, Woraphat Ratta-apha MD, PhD1, Sucheera Phattharayuttawat PhD1, Soisuda Imaroonrak MSc1, Thanayot Sumalrot PhD1, Natchaphon Auampradit MSc1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : The present study examined the relationship between self-compassion and mental health, and examined the
predictive role of self-compassion in mental health in Naresuan University students.
Materials and Methods : A total of 390 undergraduate students participated in the present study. Three research instruments
used in the present study included demographic characteristic questionnaires, the self-compassion scale [SCS], and Thai
mental health questionnaires [TMHQ].
Results : The overall results showed that the majority of students had self-compassion at a moderate level (62.8%), followed
by a high level (36.7%), and a low level (0.5%). From the research findings, the sample students tended to be at risk of having
mental health problems, including social functioning deficits (0.8%), psychosis (5.6%), depression (12.1%), anxiety (22.8%),
and somatization disorders (24.1%). In correlation analysis, self-compassion was found to be negatively correlated with
mental health problems (r = -0.41 to -0.57, p<0.01). Moreover, the findings indicated that mental health problems were
negatively predicted by self-compassion at 17.1% to 32.1%.
Conclusion : The study showed that self-compassion could be highly beneficial for protecting the individual against mental
health problems. Therefore, it is advisable to teach self-compassion to undergraduate students.
Keywords : Relationships, Self-compassion, Mental health
