The Mediating Role Of Self-Compassion And Self-Esteem In The Relationship Between Negative Early Childhood Experiences And Alexithymia

The main purpose of this study is to assess the mediating role of self-esteem and self-compassion on negative childhood experiences and alexithymia levels of high school students through Structural Equation Model. In addition, early childhood negative experiences, alexithymia, self-esteem and self-compassion concepts were also examined in terms of demographic variables (gender, socio-economic level, class level and school type). The research is structured on relational scanning model. The universe of the research consists of high school students studying in Istanbul province. The sample group consist of high school students attending schools in Üsküdar, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Ümraniye and Sancaktepe districts, where different socio-cultural and economic groups are thought to congregate. The sample was determined by stratified sampling method and the sample group consisted of 495 (55.6%) women; It consists of 890 high school students, of which 395 (44.4%) are male. Data of the research were collected using “Childhood Experiences Scale”, “Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory”, “Short Form of Self-Compassion Scale”, “Toronto Alexithymia Scale” and “Demographic Information Form”. Statistical analyses of the data were obtained using SPSS and SPSS AMOS programs, and the significance was tested at the minimum level of p <0,05. Additionally, Groups t-Test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for the study. When a significant difference was found between the groups after One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), post-hoc complementary analysis techniques (Scheffe and Tamhane) were also used to find between which groups the differences occurred. While Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to examine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between the variables. In the model established between the variables, it was determined that self-esteem and self-compassion have full mediating roles between negative childhood experiences and alexithymia.