دانشگاه اصفهان پژوهش نامه روانشناسی مثبت 2476-4248 11 3 2025 11 22 Structural Equation Modeling of Self-Control Based on Positive Childhood Experiences with the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in Substance-Dependent Individuals مدل‌یابی خودمهارگری بر اساس تجربیات مثبت دوران کودکی با نقش میانجی شفقت به خود در افراد وابسته به مواد 65 88 30563 10.22108/ppls.2026.145829.2645 FA نرجس عامری دانشجوی دکتری، گروه روانشناسی بالینی، دانشگاه سمنان، سمنان، ایران محمود نجفی : دانشیار، گروه روانشناسی بالینی، دانشگاه سمنان، سمنان، ایران Journal Article 2025 07 03 The aim of the present study was to investigate the positive relationship between positive childhood experiences and self-regulation in individuals with substance dependence undergoing methadone maintenance treatment and to determine the mediating role of self-compassion in this relationship. The research method was descriptive-correlational. A total of 312 patients with substance dependence undergoing methadone treatment who were referred to addiction treatment centers in Shahroud City were selected through purposive sampling. The instruments used in this study included the Self-Regulation Scale, the Positive Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and the Self-Compassion Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the proposed model. The findings showed that positive childhood experiences have a direct and significant relationship with self-regulation, and self-compassion plays a mediating role in the relationship between positive childhood experiences and self-regulation. Overall, the results indicated that the model has a good fit. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of self-compassion interventions in improving addiction. Self-compassion is associated with self-regulation and acts as a protective factor in managing challenges related to substance use disorders. Incorporating self-compassion-focused interventions into rehabilitation programs can enhance self-regulation and promote recovery outcomes in various populations. <strong>Introduction</strong><strong>^*</strong> Substance use is a concerning global health challenge. Numerous therapeutic approaches have been developed to terminate psychological and physical dependence on drugs. Methadone maintenance treatment is one of the essential evidence-based treatments for opioid dependence (Bakhshani et al., 2022). Among psychological disorders, addiction is the most prominent example of a self-regulation deficit (Kräplin et al., 2024). Therefore, examining factors that can contribute to self-regulation is of great importance. Recent studies in positive psychology emphasize that the absence of negative emotions is not enough for well-being. Positive emotions must also be experienced at adequate levels for personal growth (Doğan & Eren Yavuz., 2020). Childhood-related factors are increasingly investigated to understand how pathways to substance dependence begin (Kim et al., 2024). Various studies have described risk and protective factors for self-regulation in substance use. However, limited information is available about the processes that mediate these associations. Understanding the mechanisms behind these associations is essential for identifying how positive childhood experiences influence self-regulation. In this context, self-compassion has emerged as a transformative psychological construct capable of addressing these gaps. It appears to be associated with self-regulation and can also be a consequence of positive childhood experiences. Despite strong theoretical relationships among positive childhood experiences, self-compassion, and self-regulation, few studies have examined these variables together in a unified causal framework, particularly among individuals with substance dependence. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the causal relationships between positive childhood experiences and self-regulation, with an emphasis on the mediating role of self-compassion among individuals with substance dependence undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. <strong> </strong> <strong>Method</strong> The present study employed a correlational method using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this study consisted of all patients with substance dependence undergoing methadone maintenance treatment who were referred to addiction treatment centers in Shahroud City, Iran, in 2024. A purposive sampling method was applied, resulting in a final sample of 312 participants. Data collection was conducted using three standardized self-report instruments: The Self-Control Scale, which assesses the individual's ability to control impulses, resist temptations, focus on tasks, establish healthy habits, and maintain moderation in behavior; the Positive Childhood Experiences Scale, which measures the individual's positive emotional memories and experiences during childhood; and the Self-Compassion Questionnaire, which evaluates the extent of self-kindness, self-judgment, mindfulness, over-identification, common humanity, and isolation in facing personal sufferings and failures. All instruments demonstrated acceptable reliability and construct validity in the present sample. Participants completed the questionnaires after providing informed consent. Data screening procedures confirmed univariate normality and the absence of multicollinearity. Structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation was used to test direct and indirect relationships among the variables. The mediating role of self-compassion was examined using bootstrapping procedures with confidence intervals. <strong> </strong> <strong>Results</strong> The mean age of participants was 35.81 ± 4.33 years. A total of 255 participants were male (81.7%), and 57 were female (18.3%). Regarding marital status, 101 participants (32.4%) were single, and 211 participants (67.6%) were married. In terms of educational background, 261 participants (83.6%) had a high school education, and 51 participants (16.4%) had higher education. Regarding employment status, 47 participants were unemployed (15.07%), 52 were employed part-time (16.67%), and 213 were employed full-time (68.26%). Patterns of drug use indicated that 117 participants used opium, 43 used heroin, 38 used crack, 71 used methamphetamine, and 43 others used synthetic drugs. Skewness and kurtosis values fall within acceptable ranges, confirming the normal distribution of the data. The results of the correlation matrix of research variables showed that all correlation coefficients between the variables are significant at the 0.01 level. The proposed structural model demonstrates a good fit to the data based on multiple goodness-of-fit indices (<em>χ</em>²/df = 2.96, GFI = 0.95, CFI = 0.96, IFI = 0.96, AGFI = 0.94, NFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.079). The results show that positive childhood experiences positively and significantly predict self-compassion (<em>β</em> = 0.18, <em>p</em> < 0.001), indicating that individuals who have experienced more positive emotional experiences during childhood show higher levels of self-compassion in adulthood. Positive childhood experiences also positively and significantly predict self-regulation (<em>β</em> = 0.37, <em>p</em> < 0.001), indicating that positive childhood memories reduce tendencies toward impulsive behaviors and weakness in self-control. Furthermore, self-compassion positively predicts self-regulation (<em>β </em>= 0.43, <em>p</em> < 0.001), indicating that individuals with higher levels of self-compassion show greater persistence and self-control when facing challenges. Bootstrapping analyses confirm that self-compassion plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between positive childhood experiences and self-regulation. The indirect effect of positive childhood experiences on self-regulation through self-compassion is statistically significant (<em>β</em> = 0.16, <em>p</em> < 0.001). These findings indicate that positive childhood experiences influence self-regulation both directly and indirectly by increasing self-compassion. <strong> </strong> <strong>Conclusion</strong> The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between positive childhood experiences and self-regulation based on the mediating role of self-compassion in individuals with substance dependence undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. The findings showed that positive childhood experiences directly increase self-regulation in individuals with substance dependence; in such a way that positive emotional memories of childhood, by providing psychological infrastructures, strengthen self-regulatory capacities and reduce the internalization of unhealthy emotions, which can serve as a protective factor against substance abuse. Furthermore, the findings revealed that in addition to the direct effect, positive childhood experiences also have an indirect effect on self-regulation through self-compassion. In other words, positive childhood experiences such as joy, love, attention, and appreciation, through the internalization of parents' accepting and supportive attitude, lay the groundwork for the development of self-compassion in adulthood. Self-compassion, by increasing the capacity to focus on long-term goals, resisting immediate temptations, and enhancing cognitive flexibility, helps individuals to regulate their actions in accordance with their beliefs and goals and have greater self-control. In fact, individuals who have had more positive childhood experiences, by drawing on their internal assets, make more thoughtful decisions when facing challenges and reduce impulsive actions, which in turn strengthens self-regulation. The results emphasize the importance of designing psychological and educational interventions in methadone maintenance treatment centers that focus on strengthening positive childhood experiences through reconstructing pleasant memories and increasing self-compassion through teaching skills such as self-kindness, mindfulness, and reducing self-judgment, because such interventions can effectively strengthen self-regulation in individuals with substance dependence and contribute to treatment persistence and relapse prevention. <strong> </strong> <strong>Ethical Consideration</strong> We strictly observed all ethical considerations during the research process. It included ensuring the confidentiality of participants' identities and obtaining informed consent from all participants. <strong>Authors’ Contributions</strong> All authors contributed to the preparation of the final manuscript. <strong>Conflict of Interest</strong> The authors report no conflict of interest. <strong>Funding</strong> The authors received no financial support for the study. <strong>Acknowledgments</strong> This research is funded by Semnan University, research grant No 226 /1404/ ط 14041111.  The authors express their gratitude to all individuals who contributed to this research.   *. Corresponding author هدف پژوهش حاضر بررسی رابطۀ مثبت بین تجربیات مثبت دوران کودکی با خودمهارگری در افراد وابسته به مواد تحت درمان نگهدارنده با متادون و تعیین نقش میانجی شفقت به خود در این رابطه بود. روش پژوهش توصیفی از نوع همبستگی بود. تعداد 312 نفر از بیماران وابسته به مواد تحت درمان با متادون مراجعه‌کننده به مراکز ترک اعتیاد شهر شاهرود، به شیوۀ نمونه‌گیری هدفمند انتخاب شدند. ابزارهای استفاده‌شده در این پژوهش شامل مقیاس خودمهارگری، پرسشنامۀ تجربیات مثبت دوران کودکی و پرسشنامۀ شفقت به خود بودند. به منظور ارزیابی الگوی پیشنهادی، از مدل معادلات ساختاری استفاده شد. یافته‌ها نشان داد تجربیات مثبت دوران کودکی رابطه‌ای مستقیم و معنادار با خودمهارگری<strong> </strong>دارد و شفقت به خود در رابطۀ تجربیات مثبت دوران کودکی و خودمهارگری نقش واسطه‌ای دارد. در مجموع، نتایج نشان داد مدل برازشی مطلوب دارد. این یافته‌ها، پتانسیل درمانی مداخلات مبتنی بر شفقت به خود در بهبود اعتیاد برجسته می‌شود. شفقت به خود با خودمهارگری مرتبط است و به‌ عنوان عامل محافظتی در مدیریت چالش‌های مرتبط با اختلالات مصرف مواد عمل می‌کند. گنجاندن مداخلات متمرکز بر خودشفقتی در برنامه‌های توان‌بخشی می‌تواند خودمهارگری را افزایش و نتایج بهبودی را در جمعیت‌های مختلف ارتقا دهد.   https://ppls.ui.ac.ir/article_30563_70fb7635c78f7f833cd7df0680ddb73e.pdf