Developmental Precursors to Compassionate Concern for Self and Others in Young Adults

Abstract

Compassionate concern for self and others reflect two distinct, albeit related, constructs, which appear to have differential patterns of association with adjustment outcomes. There have previously been very limited investigations into the developmental pathways to compassionate concern for self and others in young adults, particularly using longitudinal data. It is possible that the developmental pathways to each construct are unique, and reflect different interplays between contextual, relational, and intra-child characteristics in early childhood. Further research is needed to understand the different patterns of association between compassionate concern for self and other and psychological and social adjustment outcomes, as well as investigate whether there are shared or unique developmental pathways to compassionate concern for self and others. My dissertation sought to address some of the aforementioned gaps and limitations within the existing literature on compassionate concern for self and others. Specifically, Study 1 used cross-sectional data from young adults to explore the factor structure of compassionate concern for self and others, and identify whether there were unique correlates of each construct with adjustment outcomes. Moreover, I aimed to identify whether there were any group differences in adjustment outcomes, after creating groupings of participants based on high versus low compassionate concern for self and others. Study 2a sought to identify whether an interplay between contextual (maternal well-being), relationship (parenting quality), and intra-child characteristics (theory of mind, emotion regulation) in early childhood may reflect developmental pathways to compassionate concern for self and others in young adulthood. Study 2b explored whether gender may moderate the relationships between the early childhood variables in Study 2a and compassionate concern for self and others in young adulthood. Results from Study 1 suggest that compassionate concern for self and others do have differential correlates. Specifically, those with high compassionate concern for self may experience less psychological maladjustment, and there may be greater peer and social adjustment among those with both high compassionate concern for self and others. Results from Study 2a did not find support for unique developmental pathways to compassionate concern for self and others. Results from Study 2b suggest that female gender may moderate the relationship between some early childhood variables (i.e., parenting quality, emotion regulation) and compassionate concern for self and others in young adulthood. Overall, these dissertation studies build on prior literature regarding compassionate concern for self and others and highlight the need for future research to explore developmental trajectories to compassionate concern for self and others. The present findings also provide some possible insights for clinical intervention that may target the cultivation of compassionate concern for self and/or others.