Perception of God as a Predictor of Self-Compassion among Theology Students

Authors : Nesibe Esen Ateş, Ali Koçak

Pages : 503-526

Doi:10.34234/ded.1790743

View : 98 | Download : 110

Publication Date : 2025-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Perception of God is regarded as an important psychological construct closely associated with individuals’ attitudes toward themselves and their emotional regulation strategies. In this context, how individuals perceive God may play a critical role in determining their levels of self-compassion, understanding, and acceptance. While existing literature provides evidence supporting the relationship between love-based perceptions of God and personal development, studies directly examining the link between self-compassion and perception of God remain limited. This quantitative study aims to investigate the predictive effect of university students’ love-oriented and fear-oriented perceptions of God on their self-compassion levels. The study sample consisted of 398 students enrolled in the Faculties of Theology at Çukurova and Şırnak Universities, selected through convenience sampling. Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale and the Perception of God Scale. Data obtained from these instruments were analyzed using regression analysis to examine the predictive role of God perception on self-compassion levels. The findings indicate that individuals who perceive God as loving, compassionate, and forgiving tend to accept their mistakes more easily and evaluate themselves more objectively. Conversely, those who perceive God as punitive and judgmental exhibit a tendency to adopt a harsher and more self-critical attitude, as revealed by the regression analysis results.
Keywords : Din Psikolojisi, Öz-Şefkat, Tanrı Algısı, Öz-Duyarlılık

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