Posttraumatic growth through self-compassion and basic psychological needs

 

Recent research by Wang (2024) examines the relationship between self-compassion and posttraumatic growth in adolescents. The research also looked at the role of basic psychological needs.

Posttraumatic growth: what factors play a role?

Traumatic experiences during adolescence can have a negative impact on mental health. Examples of this include anxiety and depression. But there can also be posttraumatic growth (PTG), where individuals experience positive psychological changes after trauma.

• Self-compassion, as defined by Neff (2003), consists of three components: self-kindness, shared humanity, and mindfulness. ► Self-kindness involves treating oneself with understanding and care rather than harsh self-criticism. ► Shared humanity is the realization that suffering and failure are part of the human experience, which reduces feelings of isolation. ► Mindfulness involves balancing negative emotions without getting caught up in them or ignoring them. These three elements enable individuals to approach themselves in healthy and constructive ways during times of difficulty. There is evidence that self-compassion is associated with higher levels of well-being and resilience (Neff & Germer, 2013)
• In addition, self-determination theory posits that fulfilling basic psychological needs —autonomy, competence, and relatedness—is essential for optimal functioning and well-being.

Wang's research focuses on how these elements relate to PTG in adolescents.

The research

The primary aim of the study was to determine to what extent self-compassion is related to posttraumatic growth in adolescents. In addition, Wang examined whether the fulfillment of basic psychological needs moderates this relationship. These insights can contribute to the development of effective interventions to support youth after traumatic events. Wang conducted a quantitative study with a sample of 300 adolescents, aged 15 to 18 years. The following measures were used:

• Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003): This scale measures self-kindness, shared humanity, and mindfulness on a Likert scale from 1 (does not apply at all) to 5 (completely applies).
• Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996): This inventory assesses positive changes following trauma across dimensions such as personal strengths, new possibilities, and appreciation of life.
• Basic Psychological Needs Scale (Deci & Ryan, 2000): Measures the degree to which the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met.

Results

• Self-compassion positively correlates with posttraumatic growth: The correlation analysis showed a significant positive association between self-compassion and posttraumatic growth (r = 0.45, p < 0.01).
• Moderating role of psychological basic needs: The hierarchical regression analysis showed that the fulfillment of psychological basic needs significantly moderated the relationship between self-compassion and PTG. In particular, relatedness had a significant moderating effect (β = 0.14, p < 0.01). Similar moderating effects were found for autonomy (β = 0.10, p = 0.05) and competence (β = 0.12, p = 0.05).

Discussion

Wang's (2024) findings indicate a significant association between self-compassion and posttraumatic growth in adolescents. This is in line with previous research linking self-compassion to positive psychological outcomes (Neff & Germer, 2013). The moderating role of basic psychological needs suggests that fulfilling these needs strengthens the positive association between self-compassion and PTG. The study is a cross-sectional correlational study based on self-report. Therefore, it is important to be cautious in interpreting the results.

► Interventions aimed at increasing self-compassion seem to be valuable for adolescents with traumatic experiences. In addition, supporting basic psychological needs in educational and therapeutic settings seems to help.

Further studies are needed to confirm and deepen these relationships.