The Association Between Childhood Trauma and Meaning in Life: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in Iranian Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Meaning in life is a fundamental component of mental health that can be influenced by early traumatic experiences. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between childhood trauma and meaning in life. METHOD: This cross-sectional study utilized a correlational design and structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The study population included individuals aged 18 to 60 residing in Semnan in 2025, with 562 participants recruited through convenience sampling and voluntarily participating in the research (216 men [38.4%], 346 women [61.6%]; M = 40.00, SD = 7.93) The research instruments included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and Smart-PLS 4 software. FINDINGS: The results indicated that childhood trauma had a significant negative effect on self-compassion (β = -0.462) and meaning in life (β = -0.224). Additionally, self-compassion showed a significant positive relationship with meaning in life (β = 0.454). The analysis of indirect effects revealed that self-compassion plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and meaning in life (β = -0.210, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that self-compassion can help maintain and enhance meaning in life by reducing the negative consequences of childhood trauma. These results underscore the importance of interventions aimed at fostering self-compassion in individuals with early traumatic experiences.