ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the mediating effect of self-compassion between family cohesion and loneliness among adolescents.Method:From November to December 2020, a total of 626 adolescents were investigated with the family adaptability and cohesion scale, children loneliness scale and the self-compassion scale short form.Data were analyzed by SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS v 2.16 softwares.The statistical methods included t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and intermediary effect analysis. Results:Compared with girls, boys’ score of family cohesion((63.52±8.47), (65.48±9.07)) was significantly lower but the scores of self-compassion((37.68±5.26), (36.49±5.75)) and loneliness((37.74±10.44), (36.01±10.48)) were significantly higher( t=-2.79, 2.06, 2.70; all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the scores of family cohesion((63.67±8.71), (64.74±8.85)), self-compassion((37.45±5.71), (36.98±5.49)) and loneliness((36.60±10.52), (36.96±10.49)) between left-behind and non-left-behind children( t=1.29, -0.87, 0.38, all P>0.05). The score of family cohesion of the adolescents from Grade 7 was significantly lower than those of Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 11( P<0.01), while the score of self-compassion of the adolescents from Grade 10 was significantly lower than those of Grade 7 and Grade 11(both P<0.01), but the score loneliness of the adolescents from Grade 11 was significantly lower than those of Grade 8 and Grade 10(both P<0.05). Family cohesion(64.50±8.82)was significantly positively associated with self-compassion(37.09±5.54)( r=0.22; P<0.01). Loneliness(36.88±10.49)were significantly negatively associated with self-compassion( r=-0.27, P<0.01) and family cohesion( r=-0.28, P<0.01). The relation between family cohesion and loneliness was partly mediated by self-compassion and the effect of mediation was 20.9%. Conclusion:Family cohesion will not only directly affect the loneliness of adolescents, but also affect loneliness through the mediating effect of self-care.