Testing the Indirect Effect of Type 1 Diabetes on Life Satisfaction Through Self-Compassion and Self-Coldness

Abstract

Objectives Diabetes is a chronic disease that markedly affects the daily life of individuals and lowers subjective well-being. Selfcompassion, or treating oneself with kindness and acceptance during challenging circumstances, may improve subjective wellbeing among people with diabetes. In the current study, we explored the relationships between duration of diabetes, positive and negative components of self-compassion (i.e., self-compassion and self-coldness), and life satisfaction. Methods The sample consisted of 112 persons with type 1 diabetes. A Self-Compassion Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. Results A parallel multiple mediation model revealed that diabetes duration was related to lower self-coldness but not to selfcompassion. Both self-coldness and self-compassion strongly correlated with life satisfaction. Diabetes duration demonstrated a significant indirect effect on life satisfaction through self-coldness (b = 0.08, 95% CI [0.01, 0.16]), but not through selfcompassion (b = 0.00, 95% CI [− 0.06, 0.06]). Conclusions The study suggests the need to examine the positive and negative components of the Self-Compassion Scale separately when studying well-being of persons with type 1 diabetes, as well as to prepare tailored self-compassion and selfcoldness interventions that can be adjusted for people with varying diabetes durations.