Självmedkänsla och självkänsla hos ungdomar och dess samband med psykisk ohälsa samt livstillfredsställelse

Sammanfattning: This study examined the relation of self-compassion and self-esteem, to mental illness and life satisfaction in adolescents. The study examined both the correlations between the concepts mentioned above but also whether self-compassion and self-esteem can predict mental illness and life satisfaction in adolescents. Participants were 303 pupils from three different high schools in Scania, Sweden (70.6 % female, 28.1 % male). The participants’ age varied between 15 and 20 years but the majority was between 16 and 18 years old (91.7 %). Using a correlational design, along with stepwise regression, the study found that girls had significant lower self-compassion and self-esteem than boys and at the same time higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Note that there was no difference between girls and boys when considering life satisfaction. The study also found medium to strong correlations between self-esteem, self-compassion and the different measures of mental illness and well-being. Finally, the stepwise regression shows that self-compassion and basic self-esteem predicts mental illness (depression, anxiety and stress) and life satisfaction in adolescents. The only exception is self-compassion as a significant predictor of anxiety in boys.