Can self‐compassion mitigate the negative consequences of insecure attachment on the incidence of self‐harm in young adults? The relationship between self‐harm, attachment and self‐compassion

Abstract Introduction This study explores self‐compassion as a mediator in the relationship between attachment and self‐harm. Self‐harm represents a maladaptive coping strategy, meanwhile suicidal self‐harm is the third most common cause of premature death among young people worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to expand research on self‐harm and explore potential protective factors. Our main research hypothesis was that self‐compassion mediates the relationship between attachment and self‐harm based on the empirical and theoretical evidence presented. Method Four hundred and two participants recruited online completed a questionnaire consisting of scales measuring self‐harming behaviour, adult attachment and self‐compassion. Results We found that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance positively predict self‐harm and negatively predict self‐compassion. The results also revealed that self‐compassion negatively predicts self‐harm and mediates the relationship between self‐harm and both anxious and avoidant attachment. Conclusion We believe that this paper creates further ground for future research on protective factors involved in the dynamics of self‐harm and has the potential to provide interesting findings for professionals working with insecurely attached self‐harming clients.