The role of self-compassion and self-efficacy in the relationship between parental acceptance-rejection and internalized stigma in adolescents receiving psychiatric treatment

This study aimed to examine the mediating roles of self-compassion and self-efficacy in the relationship between perceived parental rejection and internalized stigma in adolescents receiving psychiatric treatment. In addition, it was examined whether perceived parental rejection, internalized stigma, self-compassion, and self-efficacy differed according to sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 160 participants, aged between 12 and 17, with a mean age of 15.08±1.48, were included in our study. Data were collected from a private psychiatric hospital and two private psychiatric clinics. The Child/Adolescent Parent Acceptance and Rejection Scale, the Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents, Self-Compassion Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale were used to assess the participants' levels of perceived parental rejection, internalized stigma, self-compassion, and self-efficacy, respectively. In addition, to assess sociodemographic variables, the parents of the participants were asked to fill out the sociodemographic information form. The correlation analysis revealed statistically significant relationships, highlighting a positive and moderate association between parental rejection and internalized stigma (r = 0.639, p = <0.001), alongside negative and moderate correlations between both self-compassion (r = -0.630, p = <0.001) and perceived self-efficacy (r = -0.555, p = <0.001) with internalized stigma. These findings underscore the complex interplay between interpersonal dynamics, self-perception, and the internalization of stigma.<0.001<0.001<0.001The results of the mediator variable analysis show that the total effect of parental rejection on internalized stigma (B = 1.1277, p = <0.001) decreased when self-compassion and perceived self-efficacy were included (B = 0.6455, p = <0.001). Our findings from this cross-sectional study show that internalized stigma increases with parental rejection, and that a decrease in self-efficacy and self-compassion leads to an increase in internalized stigma. Furthermore, it reveals that self-compassion and perceived self-efficacy play a partial mediating role in the relationship between parental rejection and internalized stigma. While our findings emphasize the importance of parental support for adolescents undergoing psychiatric treatment, it can be said that interventions based on self-compassion and self-efficacy may be effective in reducing the perception of stigma if our findings are confirmed by cohort studies.