Childhood Emotional Neglect, Self-Criticism, and Meaning in Life Among Adults Living in Therapeutic Communities

Childhood emotional neglect (CEN) may contribute to the emergence of self-critical tendencies, which may be particularly pronounced in individuals living in therapeutic communities and which can have a substantial impact on their overall sense of meaning in life (MiL). This study analyzed the influence of self-criticism (self-criticizing [S-C], self-attacking [S-A], and self-reassuring [S-R]) on the link between CEN and MiL (presence of meaning [PoM] and search for meaning [SfM]) in individuals living in therapeutic communities. The study also aimed to investigate whether this mediating model differed between genders. A total of 1086 participants (18-25 years, 50% women) completed self-report questionnaires. The findings indicated intricate links between the variables. Notably, S-A emerged as a mediator between CEN and both PoM and SfM, whereas S-C solely mediated the path between CEN and SfM, and S-R only mediated the connection between CEN and PoM. Furthermore, the study confirmed the model's invariance between genders. The results underscore the necessity for targeted interventions tailored to this unique population in order to alleviate CEN's adverse effects, address the multifaceted nature of self-criticism, and foster a resilient sense of MiL.