The Relationship between Self-Compassion and Emotion Regulation through the Role of Experiential Avoidance and Intolerance of Uncertainty

Based on the transdiagnostic approach, various variables have been introduced and found, however, their relationships and interactions are still questionable. The four important and effective transdiagnostic factors introduced in researches are emotion regulation, experiential avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, and self-compassion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of experiential avoidance and intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between self-compassion, and emotion regulation difficulties in students. This research was in the form of modeling of various correlation methods. For this purpose, 405 students of Shiraz University present in the second semester of 2018-2019 year were enrolled by multistage cluster random sampling. Participants, then, completed the Short Form of Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Data analysis was performed by structural equation modeling, using AMOS software. The path analysis method showed that self-compassion predicted emotion regulation both directly and indirectly through intolerance of uncertainty and experiential avoidance. Therefore, it can be concluded that self-compassion enables individuals for confrontation to their experience and enhance uncertainty tolerance to help them manage their emotions. Accordingly it is important to pay attention to the changes of these two variables in self-compassion-based interventions to regulate and manage emotions.