The relation between self-compassion, depression, and forgiveness of others

This study examined the role of self-compassion and its relationship to depression and forgiveness. Participants (n = 96) were recruited from undergraduate psychology classes at a medium-sized Midwestern Catholic university. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing self-compassion, forgiveness, depression, and rumination. Consistent with hypotheses, rumination mediated the relationship between self-compassion and depression. The above mediation was also examined using the self-compassion subscale isolation because this subscale related strongest to rumination and depression. It was found that self-compassion isolation and rumination independently predicted depression significantly. This study also found that self-compassion correlated with forgiveness. More specifically, positive aspects of self-compassion (mindfulness, self-kindness) were closely related to forgiveness of others. This seems to suggest not only that measures of well-being are often related to each other, but also that mindfulness and self-kindness, specifically, may be two integral parts involved in forgiveness. Implications and study limitations are discussed