Abstract
Previous research has examined the relationships among mindfulness facets (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience), self-compassion, and aggression in men. The research examining these relationships in women has been limited. Thus, the present study aims to examine the relationships among mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in a sample of young adult women. Participants (N = 125) aged 18 to 25 (M = 21.16, SD = 1.72) completed self-report measures of mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression. Regression analysis indicated significant negative correlations between aggression and describing (p = .003), acting with awareness (p < .001), non-judging (p < .001), non-reactivity (p = .001), and self-compassion (p < .001). There was not a statistically significant negative correlation between aggression and observing (p = .373). Furthermore, self-compassion explained variance in aggression above and beyond individuals’ mindfulness scores (p = .008). Results indicate that mindfulness facets and self-compassion may be valuable protective factors for aggression in young adult women. Future research on coping mechanisms for aggression should focus primarily on the facets of describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity. Research should further explore the possible role of self-compassion in reducing aggression in young adult women.
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Fuchs, D.E., Fleischmann, M.H., Wisener, M. et al. The relationship between mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in young adult women. Curr Psychol 43, 5443–5450 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04732-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04732-9