Emotion regulation and subjective well-being among parents of children with behavioral and emotional problems – the role of self-compassion

Parents of children with emotional and behavioral problems often experience emotional regulation difficulties and decreased well-being. The study examined two models (mediating and moderating) explaining associations between difficulties in emotion regulation, self-compassion, and subjective well-being among parents of children with emotional and behavioral problems. The sample comprised 662 parents of children attending the child and adolescent psychiatric center of a public hospital. Measurements included: Personal Wellbeing Index, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Self-Compassion Scale. A regression-based path analysis directly tested the proposed moderation model using model 1 in PROCESS. Path analysis using AMOS examined the mediation model. Results supported the moderation model wherein self-compassion moderated the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and well-being. The interaction between difficulties in emotion regulation and self-compassion was significant in predicting subjective well-being. Increased difficulties in emotion regulation were associated with decreased subjective well-being, and increased self-compassion was associated with increased subjective well-being. Parents with high difficulties in emotion regulation and low self-compassion had the worst subjective well-being. The mediation model, wherein difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the association between self-compassion and subjective well-being. was not supported. The results support the subjective well-being homeostasis theory, suggesting self-compassion is a protective factor. Cultivating self-compassion may foster parents’ ability to respond to emotional distress and improve well-being.