Examination of the mediation of self-compassion and psychological resiliency among individuals diagnosed as major depressive disorder with sexual abuse history

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine whether self-compassion and psychological resilience levels mediate the relationship between childhood traumas and depression levels in women diagnosed with depression with a history of childhood sexual abuse. In addition, another aim of the study is to compare women with no history of sexual abuse in terms of self-compassion, psychological resilience and childhood trauma sub-dimensions. METHOD: The research was carried out in scanning model, and a cross-sectional study was conducted with the convenient sampling method. 100 women who were diagnosed with major (severe) depression, who were treated as an outpatient at Erenköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital, participated in the study. With clinical interviews, women were divided into groups according to their exposure to childhood sexual abuse. Socio-demographic Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, Adult Resilience Scale and Beck Depression Scale were applied to the participants. T-test for comparison of groups in research; Pearson Correlation for correlational analysis; Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to examine the mediating role. RESULTS: According to the findings of the study, women who are victims of sexual abuse and diagnosed with depression have higher self-judgment and isolation scores which are classified as negative self-compassion sub-dimensions; the sub-dimensions of awareness and being aware of sharing were significantly lower than the group without sexual abuse history. Structural style, family harmony and future perception scores as psychological resilience subscales were found to be significantly lower among women with sexual abuse history. When correlation and regression findings were examined, depression levels of women diagnosed with depression with a history of sexual abuse were found to be negatively predicted by social resources and social competence sub-dimensions; whereas the isolation sub-scale from self-compassion is positively and significantly predicted depression. In addition, significant differences were found in the sub-scales of self-compassion and psychological resilience in terms of the variables of sexual abuse among women diagnosed with depression with a history of sexual abuse. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, the importance of self-compassion and resilience skills to reduce the severity of depression, which can be associated with traumatic experience, was demonstrated, since the relationship between levels of depression, self-compassion and psychological resilience is higher in women victims of sexual abuse compared to women who are only diagnosed with depression. Within the scope of the services provided in the field of mental health, it can be considered that these variables can be evaluated and supported by further research, especially in terms of being protective and developing for traumatic experiences and possible associated psychopathologies. Keywords: Sexual Abuse, Psychological Resiliency, Self-Compassion, Trauma