<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec>
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>Adolescence is a critical period for mental development where the consequences of psychopathologies can be exceedingly harmful, and compassion has been identified as a protective factor for adolescents’ mental well-being.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Aim</h3>
<p>The aim of this study was to explore three perspectives of compassion – Self-compassion, Compassion for others, and Compassion from others – and their relationship with depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Method</h3>
<p>This Swedish cross-sectional study included 259 psychiatric patients (ages 16–22). Participants completed a survey including the self-assessment scales “Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – Second Edition” (RADS-2), “Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire – Junior Version” (SIQ-JR), and “Compassion Engagement and Action Scale – Youth” (CEAS-Y). Linear regression analyses were used to determine whether participants’ levels of compassion predicted depression and suicidal ideation.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Self-compassion and Compassion from others significantly predicted both depression and suicidal ideation. Girls, on average, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and lower levels of self-compassion compared to boys. The correlation between compassion and depressive symptoms, however, appeared to be stronger in boys. There was also a positive correlation between Compassion for others and suicidal ideation.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>The results suggest that Self-compassion and Compassion from others may have a significant protective effect against depression and suicidal ideation, especially in boys. However, due to the relatively small sample of boys (n = 40), further research is needed before any solid conclusion can be drawn regarding possible gender differences. Additionally, the combination of low Self-compassion and higher levels of Compassion for others may be associated with suicidal ideation.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background
Adolescence is a critical period for mental development where the consequences of psychopathologies can be exceedingly harmful, and compassion has been identified as a protective factor for adolescents’ mental well-being.


Aim
The aim of this study was to explore three perspectives of compassion – Self-compassion, Compassion for others, and Compassion from others – and their relationship with depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents.


Method
This Swedish cross-sectional study included 259 psychiatric patients (ages 16–22). Participants completed a survey including the self-assessment scales “Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – Second Edition” (RADS-2), “Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire – Junior Version” (SIQ-JR), and “Compassion Engagement and Action Scale – Youth” (CEAS-Y). Linear regression analyses were used to determine whether participants’ levels of compassion predicted depression and suicidal ideation.


Results
Self-compassion and Compassion from others significantly predicted both depression and suicidal ideation. Girls, on average, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and lower levels of self-compassion compared to boys. The correlation between compassion and depressive symptoms, however, appeared to be stronger in boys. There was also a positive correlation between Compassion for others and suicidal ideation.


Conclusions
The results suggest that Self-compassion and Compassion from others may have a significant protective effect against depression and suicidal ideation, especially in boys. However, due to the relatively small sample of boys (n = 40), further research is needed before any solid conclusion can be drawn regarding possible gender differences. Additionally, the combination of low Self-compassion and higher levels of Compassion for others may be associated with suicidal ideation.

Compassion in three perspectives: Associations with depression and suicidal ideation in a clinical adolescent sample

Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background
Adolescence is a critical period for mental development where the consequences of psychopathologies can be exceedingly harmful, and compassion has...

	Depression (RADS-2)		Suicidal ideation (SIQ-JR)
	Adj.R²	β	Adj.R²	β
Model	.352^***		.170^***
Age		-.077		-.083
Gender¹		-.216^***		-.081
Self-compassion		-.360^***		-.284^***
Compassion for others		.096		.119^*

	Total (N = 259) M (SD)	Girls (n = 219) M (SD)	Boys (n = 40) M (SD)	95% CI	p	Cohen’s d
RADS-2	78.27(16.22)	80.13(15.57)	68.13(16.13)	6.70; 17.30	<.001	.767
SIQ-JR	23.62(21.07)	24.78(21.82)	17.25(15.03)	1.96; 13.10	.009	.360
Self-compassion	53.85(15.83)	53.01(15.75)	58.43(15.69)	-10.75; -.09	.046	-.344
Compassion for others	83.49(13.50	84.62(13.01)	77.30(14.61)	2.83; 11.81	.001	.552
Compassion from others	59.75(18.87)	59.87(19.33)	59.08(16.30)	-5.60; 7.20	.806	.042

	Girls (n= 219)		Boys (n= 40)
	Adj.R²	β	Adj.R²	β
Model	.277^***		.411^***
Self-compassion		-.354^***		-.490**
Compassion for others		.083		.171
Compassion from others		-.296^***		-.310^*

Compassion in three perspectives: Associations with depression and suicidal ideation in a clinical adolescent sample

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 07, 2023

Page range: 120 - 127

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2023-0012

Keywords
Compassion, Depression, Suicidal ideation, Adolescents, Regression analysis

© 2023 Emmy Jonsson et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Results from multiple regression for RADS-2 and SIQ-JR for the total sample.

Gender differences in mean total scores of RADS-2, SIQ-JR, and the three CEAS-Y scales, independent-samples t-test, and effect size.

Results from multiple regression for RADS-2 for girls and boys separately.

Compassion in three perspectives: Associations with depression and suicidal ideation in a clinical adolescent sample

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 07, 2023

Page range: 120 - 127

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2023-0012

KeywordsCompassion, Depression, Suicidal ideation, Adolescents, Regression analysis

© 2023 Emmy Jonsson et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Results from multiple regression for RADS-2 and SIQ-JR for the total sample.

Gender differences in mean total scores of RADS-2, SIQ-JR, and the three CEAS-Y scales, independent-samples t-test, and effect size.

Results from multiple regression for RADS-2 for girls and boys separately.

Keywords
Compassion, Depression, Suicidal ideation, Adolescents, Regression analysis