Unlocking the Power of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility: Enhancing Emotional Health, Subjective Wellbeing, and Quality of Life in College Students

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the predictive effects of psychological flexibility and self-compassion on the quality of life, emotional distress, and subjective well-being of college students, while controlling for demographic and other relevant psychological variables. The study sample comprised 502 young adults, 69% of whom were female and 31% male, aged between 19 and 37 years (M = 21.24, SD = 2.40). Regression analyses showed that self-compassion and psychological flexibility accounted for a significant amount of unique variance in each of the outcomes, even when controlling for all other variables in the model. Additionally, when psychological flexibility and other independent variables were included in the final stage of the regression model, self-compassion remained a significant predictor of quality of life, emotional distress, and subjective well-being. These findings highlight the importance of cultivating self-compassion as a unique and independent factor contributing to these outcomes, even after accounting for psychological flexibility and other relevant factors. Overall, the results underscore the potential benefits of promoting psychological flexibility and self-compassion to enhance the quality of life, emotional health, and well-being of college students.