Abstract
Sport and exercise can be emotionally difficult for young women. A potential resource to transform their experiences is self-compassion (SC) – treating oneself with kindness and understanding in the face of pain and failure (Neff, 2003). Although associated with a variety of well-being indices, SC has largely been neglected in the eudaimonic tradition that reflects psychological flourishing at one's maximal potential (Ryff, 1989, 1995). This study explored the association between SC and eudaimonic well-being (EWB) in young women involved in sport and exercise. Based on SC and EWB theoretical perspectives, the mediating associations of passivity, responsibility, initiative, and self-determination on the SC–EWB relationship were also considered. Participants (N=125; Mage=18.94) completed an online questionnaire of valid and reliable measures. SC and EWB were positively correlated (r=.71, p<.01). Passivity (?=-.48), responsibility (?=.47), initiative (?=.43), and self-determination (?=.41) were significant predictors along with SC in their respective models predicting EWB (R2=.62 to .68). The data were also consistent with models of partial mediation, suggesting that passivity, responsibility, initiative, and self-determination may be plausible mechanism variables of the SC–EWB relationship. Findings support the proposition that SC does not lead to complacency, but rather entails engaging in necessary actions for optimal functioning and well-being (Neff, 2009).Acknowledgments: Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)