Maternal Self-Compassion as a Moderator of the Relation between Adolescent Aggression and Parenting Stress

The present study examined whether maternal self-compassion moderated the relationship between adolescent aggression and maternal parenting stress. Mothers of adolescents (N = 241) completed self-report measures of adolescent aggression, maternal self-compassion, and global stress in the parenting role, as well as stress within particular aspects of parenting (e.g., maternal life restrictions and feelings of incompetence and guilt). Moderation analyses were used to test the hypothesis that maternal self-compassion would moderate the relationship between adolescent aggression and global and parent domains of parenting stress. The results indicated that maternal self-compassion moderated the relationship between adolescent aggression and domains of parenting stress, and the relationship between adolescent aggression and domains of parenting stress was stronger for mothers who were less self-compassionate whereas the relationship between adolescent aggression and domains of parenting stress was weaker for mothers who were more self-compassionate. Further, exploratory analyses were conducted to assess whether self-compassion would moderate the relationship between adolescent aggression and maternal parenting stress when controlling for maternal dysfunctional discipline, a significant predictor of adolescent aggression and maternal parenting stress, in the model. Results indicated that when dysfunctional parenting was included in the model, maternal self-compassion continued to moderate the relations between adolescent aggression and parenting stress.