Self-Compassion and Depression Symptoms in Masters Athletes: Examining a Potential Protective Relationship

Self-compassion may protect against poor mental health, but its role in adults engaged in competitive sport is less known. This study examined self-compassion and depression symptoms in masters athletes ( N = 133, 39.1% female, M age = 54.3 years, M VO2max = 45.9 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 ), exploring training factors as covariates. Participants completed questionnaires and fitness tests. Average self-compassion was high ( M = 3.58, SD = 0.55), with 54.9% scoring above a clinical threshold for depression. No significant sex differences were found in self-compassion or depression symptoms. As hypothesized, higher self-compassion was significantly associated with fewer depression symptoms (β = −2.67, SE = 0.52, p < .001). None of the covariates (sex, age, body mass index, maximal aerobic capacity, training hours, and competitions per year) were significantly linked to depression. The model explained 15% of depression variance. These findings suggest that self-compassion interventions could be a useful strategy to reduce depression symptoms in masters athletes.