Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor in the Relationship Between Fatherlessness and Emotional Intelligence Among Adolescents

Abstract

Fatherlessness has increasingly been recognized as a risk factor for adolescents' socio-emotional development. However, limited research has examined the psychological mechanisms that may buffer its adverse effects on emotional functioning. This study investigated the effect of fatherlessness on emotional intelligence, with self-compassion as a moderating variable among senior high school students. A quantitative explanatory design was employed using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The population consisted of 1,131 students from SMA Negeri 1 Tanjung Morawa, with 118 participants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Fatherlessness Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. The results indicated that fatherlessness negatively predicted emotional intelligence (β = −0.621, p < .05) and self-compassion (β = −0.803, p < .05). Conversely, self-compassion positively predicted emotional intelligence (β = 0.256, p < .05). Furthermore, self-compassion significantly moderated the relationship between fatherlessness and emotional intelligence (β = 0.182, p < .05), attenuating the negative impact of fatherlessness. These findings suggest that self-compassion functions as an important psychological protective factor that promotes emotional adjustment among adolescents experiencing fatherlessness. The study highlights the potential value of self-compassion-based interventions to foster emotional well-being among vulnerable adolescents.

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