Predicting depressive symptoms in high school adolescents based on self-compassion and perfectionism

Adolescence represents a critical developmental period marked by significant personal and social changes, with depressive symptoms emerging as a prevalent mental health concern globally. This study aimed to investigate the predictive role of self-compassion and perfectionism in depressive symptoms among female high school adolescents in Tabriz, Iran. A correlational descriptive design was employed, utilizing multi-stage cluster sampling to select ۲۲۰ participants from three urban districts. Data collection involved validated instruments: the Neff Self-Compassion Scale (۲۰۰۳), the Children's Depression Inventory (Kovacs, ۲۰۰۲), and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (۱۹۹۵). Quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression to assess relationships and predictive power. Findings revealed that self-compassion components (self-kindness, common humanity) and perfectionism dimensions (adaptive and maladaptive) significantly predicted depressive symptoms, while mindfulness and over-identification did not show statistical significance. Specifically, higher self-compassion and adaptive perfectionism were associated with reduced depressive symptoms, whereas maladaptive perfectionism exacerbated them. These results underscore the importance of fostering self-compassion and adaptive perfectionism in educational and therapeutic settings to mitigate depressive vulnerabilities during adolescence. Integrating these psychological constructs into interventions could enhance mental health outcomes for at-risk youth.

کلیدواژه ها:

Adolescents ، Depression ، Perfectionism ، Self-compassion