Are self-criticism and self-compassion mediators of the effect of physical health on mental well-being?

This study investigated the possible mediating effect self-criticism and self-compassion can have on the relation between physical health and mental well-being. Self-criticism is a personality style associated with fragile self-esteem and fear of failure and scrutiny from others. Self-compassion on the other hand is a positive attitude towards oneself that can protect an individual against the negative effects of self-criticism, self-judgment and isolation. These two personality styles as well as physical health affect the mental well-being of an individual and therefore play an important role in improving health, health care and overall quality of life. This study hypothesized that self-criticism and self-compassion function as mediators in explaining the effect physical health has on mental well-being.