Journal article
The Role of Social Support, Being Present, and Self-kindness in University Student Psychological Distress
Australian Psychologist, Vol.53(1), pp.52-59
2018
Abstract
Objective: Self-kindness, which is thought to be part of self-compassion, has the potential to contribute to mental health, as well as serve as a focus for interventions. However, little attention has been given to the potential role of self-kindness specifically, especially in the context of mindful presence and available social support, in buffering distress. Method: Structural equation modelling was used to test a theoretically based model of how these factors relate to each other and psychological distress. Participants were 592 Australian university students. Results: Results confirmed our hypotheses, showing that: (a) receiving social support is important to the capacity for self-kindness both directly and indirectly through the ability to "be present," and (b) the relationship between social support and psychological distress is partially mediated by the practices of self-kindness and being present. The model of social support, being present, and self-kindness accounted for half the variance in psychological distress. With the addition of stressors, a regression model explained a total of 62% of the variance. Conclusions: These findings have implications for understanding the construct of self-kindness and its role in the development of interventions to improve student success.
Details
- Title
- The Role of Social Support, Being Present, and Self-kindness in University Student Psychological Distress
- Authors
- Helen M Stallman (Corresponding Author) - University of South AustraliaJ L Ohan (Author) - University of Western AustraliaB Chiera (Author) - University of South Australia
- Publication details
- Australian Psychologist, Vol.53(1), pp.52-59
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1111/ap.12271
- ISSN
- 0005-0067
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451231702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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