Investigating the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Authenticity and Alexithymia in University Students.

This study investigates the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between authenticity and alexithymia among university students from three departments—English Language Teaching, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, and Elementary Mathematics Teaching—at a foundation university in Istanbul, Turkey. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design and structural equation modeling, the research found significant negative correlations between alexithymia (difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions) and both authenticity (living in accordance with one's true self) and self-compassion (kindness and understanding toward oneself). Crucially, self-compassion was identified as a full mediator between authenticity and alexithymia, indicating that authentic living influences alexithymia levels primarily through its effect on self-compassion. No significant differences in these variables were found across departments or genders, and the findings suggest that enhancing self-compassion could be a key target for interventions aimed at improving emotional awareness and psychological well-being in university students.