Self-Compassion and Achievement Goals: A Curvilinear Examination Using Generalized Additive Modeling

Self-compassion is the ability to demonstrate consideration for one's own well-being. Self-compassion has demonstrated strong ties to goal-setting behaviors, such as the adoption of achievement goal orientations. Although research largely suggests self-compassion supports adaptive goal-setting tendencies, a small but growing body of literature indicates that elevated self-compassion may, in some cases, undermine goal striving and promote passivity. The present study seeks to clarify the relationship between self-compassion and achievement goals by examining potential curvilinear relationships between these factors. Three hundred fifty-seven university students completed an online self-report questionnaire evaluating self-compassion and achievement goal type. Generalized additive modeling was utilized to explore potential nonlinear relationships. The results revealed a significant, near-linear negative relationship between self-compassion and both mastery avoidance and performance achievement goals. Notably, the relationship involving mastery approach goals was threshold-like, such that self-compassion scores above 3.0 were associated with increased endorsement of mastery approach goals. The results suggest that the benefits of self-compassion for mastery approach goals may only appear when learners cross a critical threshold.