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Perceived social support and self-compassion as serial mediators of relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological distress

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  • Rukiye Kızıltepe
  • Servet Kaçar-BaÅŸaran

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have consistently found a robust relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological distress. Despite the increasing number of studies in recent years that have identified social support or self-compassion as potential mechanisms in this relationship, no study examines the mediating role of both social support and self-compassion in adults. Aim: This study aimed to investigate social support and self-compassion as potential mediators in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological distress using a serial mediation model. Method: Using online surveys, a total of 310 participants ( M age  = 28.83, SD  = 6.07) were included in this study. The data was collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – Short Form. The proposed serial mediation model was conducted using PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results: After controlling age and gender, the results showed that: (a) there was a direct effect of childhood maltreatment on psychological distress ( B  = 0.192, p  

Suggested Citation

  • Rukiye Kızıltepe & Servet Kaçar-BaÅŸaran, 2026. "Perceived social support and self-compassion as serial mediators of relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological distress," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 72(2), pages 398-408, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:2:p:398-408
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640251362726
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrea Danese & Cathy Spatz Widom, 2020. "Objective and subjective experiences of child maltreatment and their relationships with psychopathology," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(8), pages 811-818, August.
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