Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 4 (7-2026)
JRUMS 2026, 25(4): 397-412 |
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Ethics code: IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1403.184
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Hassani R S, Zanjani Z. The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among University Students:
A Descriptive Study. JRUMS 2026; 25 (4) :397-412
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7993-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7993-en.html
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The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among University Students:
A Descriptive Study
Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani[1] Zahra Zanjani[2]
Received: 30/03/26 Sent for Revision: 11/05/26 Received Revised Manuscript: 13/07/26 Accepted: 14/07/26
Background and Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are considered among the most critical risk factors in the development of emotional vulnerability and the increased likelihood of mood disorders in adulthood. The present study aimed to explain the structural model of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms, focusing on the mediating role of self-compassion.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The research sample consisted of 287 students from Kashan University of Medical Sciences during the 2024–2025 academic year, who were selected through stratified random sampling. The instruments included the Childhood Trauma (Adverse Experiences) Questionnaire by Bernstein et al., the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), Pearson correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling (testing direct and mediating relationships).
Results: The findings indicated that adverse childhood experiences have a significant positive relationship with depressive symptoms and a significant negative relationship with self-compassion (P<0.05). The evaluation of the hypothesized research model demonstrated a good fit with the empirical data. Furthermore, the path analysis results confirmed that self-compassion played a significant mediating role in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that adverse childhood experiences increase the likelihood of depression by reducing self-compassion. Accordingly, therapeutic interventions focused on enhancing self-compassion can be effective in preventing and treating depression, particularly among the student population.
Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences, Depression, Self-compassion, Students
Funding: This study was funded by the research deputy of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 403137).
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
Ethical Considerations: The Ethics Committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1403.184).
Authors Contributions
- Conceptualization: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani, Zahra Zanjani
- Methodology: Zahra Zanjani, Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Data collection: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Formal analysis: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Supervision: Zahra Zanjani
- Project administration: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani, Zahra Zanjani
- Writing – original draft: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Writing – review & editing: Zahra Zanjani, Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
A Descriptive Study
Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani[1] Zahra Zanjani[2]
Received: 30/03/26 Sent for Revision: 11/05/26 Received Revised Manuscript: 13/07/26 Accepted: 14/07/26
Background and Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are considered among the most critical risk factors in the development of emotional vulnerability and the increased likelihood of mood disorders in adulthood. The present study aimed to explain the structural model of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms, focusing on the mediating role of self-compassion.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The research sample consisted of 287 students from Kashan University of Medical Sciences during the 2024–2025 academic year, who were selected through stratified random sampling. The instruments included the Childhood Trauma (Adverse Experiences) Questionnaire by Bernstein et al., the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), Pearson correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling (testing direct and mediating relationships).
Results: The findings indicated that adverse childhood experiences have a significant positive relationship with depressive symptoms and a significant negative relationship with self-compassion (P<0.05). The evaluation of the hypothesized research model demonstrated a good fit with the empirical data. Furthermore, the path analysis results confirmed that self-compassion played a significant mediating role in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that adverse childhood experiences increase the likelihood of depression by reducing self-compassion. Accordingly, therapeutic interventions focused on enhancing self-compassion can be effective in preventing and treating depression, particularly among the student population.
Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences, Depression, Self-compassion, Students
Funding: This study was funded by the research deputy of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 403137).
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
Ethical Considerations: The Ethics Committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1403.184).
Authors Contributions
- Conceptualization: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani, Zahra Zanjani
- Methodology: Zahra Zanjani, Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Data collection: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Formal analysis: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
- Supervision: Zahra Zanjani
- Project administration: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani, Zahra Zanjani
- Writing – original draft: Reyhaneh Sadat Hassani
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Citation: Hassani RS, Zanjani Z. The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among University Students. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2026; 25 (4): 397-412. doi: 10.66224/jrums.25.4.397. [Farsi].
A Descriptive Study J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2026; 25 (4): 397-412. doi: 10.66224/jrums.25.4.397. [Farsi]. |
[1]- Master's in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
[2]- PhD in Clinical Psychology, Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Facualty, Kashan Unicersity of Medical Siences, Kashan, Iran. ORCID: 0000-0003-4450-9397
Corresponding Author: Tel: (031) 55109999, Email: z_zanjani2005@yahoo.com
Corresponding Author: Tel: (031) 55109999, Email: z_zanjani2005@yahoo.com
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
روانپزشكي
Received: 2026/05/23 | Accepted: 2026/10/3 | Published: 2026/07/31
Received: 2026/05/23 | Accepted: 2026/10/3 | Published: 2026/07/31
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