The Role of Self-compassion and Alexithymia in Predicting Perceived Social Support

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-compassion and alexithymia in predicting perceived social support. A convenience sample of 181 adults (138 females and 52 males) from Mashhad completed validated measures including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form (SCS-SF), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS). Data were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. The results showed that perceived social support was positively correlated with self-compassion and negatively correlated with alexithymia. In addition, self-compassion was found to have a negative and significant relationship with alexithymia. A stepwise regression model with self-compassion and alexithymia as predictors explained 6.5% of the variance in perceived social support. The results indicate that an increase in self-compassion and a decrease in alexithymia lead to an increase in perceived social support. Self-compassion has a greater impact on the prediction of perceived social support. Therefore, individuals who have higher levels of self-compassion and emotional expression tend to perceive higher levels of social support.