SELF COMPASSION AND EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY OF ADOLESCENTS: THE MODERATOR ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE

Abstract

Adolescents receiving institutional care are much more likely to develop any psychological problems at some point in their lives, than those living with their biological parents. In addition to the cognitive and social difficulties they experience, there are various studies demonstrating that they are at risk, in the field of emotional development too. Emotional development constitutes only a part of important outcomes but it covers crucial concepts such as self-compassion and emotional reactivity. Although these concepts are so important for adolescents to establish healthy relationships with themselves and others, no study has so far studied these in this special group. In the light of the literature the aim of the present study is to investigate the moderating role of institutional experience on the relation between self-compassion and emotional reactivity. Firstly, it is expected that children who are residing in institutions will have higher scores on emotional reactivity compared to children in a family environment. Secondly, it is predicted that there will be a significant and negative relationship between self-compassion and emotional reactivity. Additionally, this potential relationship is expected to be stronger for institutionalised adolescents. A total of 90 adolescents from two different care types (institutional care and biological family homes) will be included in the study. Data will be collected using the Self-Compassion Scale and the Emotion Reactivity Scale. A moderation model will be tested that includes emotional reactivity as a criterion variable, self-compassion as a predictor variable, and care type (institutional care vs. biological family homes) as a moderator. The results of the present study may contribute to enlighten the emotional regulation mechanisms of adolescents receiving institutional care and develop effective intervention programs regarding the protective role of self-compassion, which is a relatively new concept.