In light of cognitive flexibility and unconditional self-acceptance: the association between self-compassion and depression

Introduction This study examined the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms, focusing on the mediating roles of cognitive flexibility and unconditional self-acceptance. Although self-compassion is recognized as a protective factor against depression, the underlying psychological mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Methods A quantitative relational design was employed with a sample of 318 Turkish adults aged 18–65 years (76.1% female). Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods, and data were collected via online surveys. Participants completed validated scales measuring self-compassion, depression, unconditional self-acceptance, and cognitive flexibility. Mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) in SPSS to test direct and indirect effects. Results Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms ( r = −0.56, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that cognitive flexibility significantly mediated this relationship, whereas unconditional self-acceptance demonstrated a weaker indirect effect. Discussion Higher self-compassion was associated with lower depressive symptoms, partly through cognitive flexibility and, to a lesser extent, unconditional self-acceptance. These findings highlight the role of cognitive and self-evaluative processes in understanding the relationship between self-compassion and depression.