Self-compassion and belonging in adolescents living in ghettos: mediating role of hope

Aslan O., TOPUZ İ., GÜLTEKİN F.

Children and Youth Services Review, cilt.186, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 186
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109014
  • Dergi Adı: Children and Youth Services Review
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social Sciences Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Adolescents, Belongingness, Ghetto, Hope, Self-compassion
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigates the relationship between self-compassion and the sense of belonging among 530 adolescents living in ghettoized areas of Türkiye, focusing on the mediating role of hope. The study addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining whether hope acts as a mediator in the effect of self-compassion on belonging—especially in high-risk environments with limited educational opportunities and weak social support. The findings demonstrate that hope significantly mediates the relationship between self-compassion and the sense of belonging. By focusing on adolescents living in urban ghettos, where issues such as school disengagement, dropout, and inadequate social support are prevalent, this research offers a unique contribution to the field. The results provide valuable insights for developing school- and community-based intervention programs for mental health and youth development.