Passing on Self-Compassion: Parent Self-Compassion, Gate Opening, and Child Positivity
T. Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien, Cailey Fay and Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler
Citation: Vasquez-O’Brien, T. C., Fay, C., & Rellinger Zettler, E. (2024). Passing on Self-Compassion: Parent Self-Compassion, Gate Opening, and Child Positivity. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 8, 9, 1-7. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-8-2024/volume-8-article-9/
Processing dates: Submitted 29 August 2023; Resubmitted 13 March 2024; Accepted 16 April 2024; Published 23 August 2024
Abstract
Background: Self-compassion is the practice of treating oneself with kindness during difficult times. It has been related to better well-being within an individual and to more mindful parenting practices. In the current study, we hypothesized that the relation between parent self-compassion and sibling positivity and cooperation would be moderated by parental gatekeeping behaviors.
Method: Families (N = 145) consisting of one parent and two siblings between the age of 4-12 participated in a laboratory study. Parents reported on their gatekeeping behaviors using the Parental Regulation Inventory (Van Egeren, 2000) and on their self-compassion using the Self-Compassion Scale (Raes et al., 2011). Children reported on their cooperation using the Individual Protective Factors Index (Phillips & Springer, 1997). Sibling positivity was measured during a laboratory observation of a snack share task (Stoneman & Brody, 1993).
Results: Controlling for parent and child age, child sex, and socioeconomic status, parent gate opening significantly moderated the relations between parent self-compassion and child cooperation and sibling positivity. When parents reported more gate opening, parent self-compassion related to significantly more child cooperation and sibling positivity.
Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that parent self-compassion has a positive effect on sibling interactions when it is paired with gate opening behaviors. Gate opening may be parent
self-compassion in practice; allowing the parent to reduce their parenting burden while also fully welcoming their partner into a relationship with the child, benefiting the child in turn.
Keywords: Parenting, Self-Compassion, Gatekeeping, Siblings, Child Positivity
Biographies
T. Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien is with the Department of Psychological Science, Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St, Willimantic CT, 06226, USA
Email: vasquezobrient@easternct.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7701-8554
Cailey Fay is with the Department of Psychological Science, Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St, Willimantic CT, 06226, USA
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8208-5790
Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler is with the Department of Psychology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650, USA
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3762-3036