The mediating role of self-compassion in relation between cognitive schemas of parents and happiness of children in students of first period of high school in Tehran

The aim of this research was to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in relation between cognitive schemas of parents and happiness of children in students of first period of high school in Tehran.

This research was a correlational study. In order to gather the data, three questionnaires, including  Oxford Happiness Inventory (Hill and Argyle, 2002), Young Schema Questionnaire (Young, 1990) and Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003) were used. Statistical population included middle school students and their mothers in Tehran. From among this population, 384 individuals were selected through random cluster sampling. Data was analyzed through analysis of structural equations.

data Obtained indicated that parents’ cognitive schemas have direct influence on children’s happiness. Among the 15 parents’ maladjustment schemas,   the incompetency incompetency, mistrust, social isolation, unrelenting standards, insufficient self-control, and defectiveness had significant effect on children’s happiness. Moreover, the mediating role of self-compassion and happiness in children was significantly influenced by mistrust, social isolation, unrelenting standards, and insufficient self- control schemas.

Parents whose life experiences have shaped maladaptive schemas in their life have negative effects on their children’s positive emotion, and decrease the happiness of their children through their wrong behaviors.