Good for the Self Citation for published version (APA): Good for the Self: Self-Compassion and Other Self-Related Constructs in Relation to Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Non-clinical Youths

Abstract This study examined relationships among selfcompassion, self-esteem, and self-efficacy and symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression in a sample of 132 nonclinical adolescents aged 12-17 years. The results first of all indicated that the Shortened Self-Compassion Scale for Adolescents was reliable (i.e., all Cronbach's alphas were [.70) and valid in terms of both construct (as demonstrated by a principal components analysis which revealed the hypothesized three-factor structure) and concurrent validity (i.e., as shown by means of positive correlations with selfesteem and self-efficacy). Further, the expected negative correlations were found between self-compassion and anxiety and depression, indicating that higher levels of this self-related construct are associated with lower symptom levels, and vice versa. Of the three components of selfcompassion, mindfulness appeared most convincingly related to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Finally, when controlling for other self-related constructs, selfcompassion no longer accounted for a significant proportion in the variance of symptom levels. In contrast, selfesteem (depression) and in particular self-efficacy (anxiety and depression) did show unique explanatory power