Keywords
life crisis
psychological well-being
resilience
internal resources
environmental mastery
hope
positive psychotherapy
psychosomatic distress
How to Cite
Abstract
This study presents a theoretical and empirical investigation of self-acceptance as a core internal resource of psychological resilience in the context of life crisis. Self-acceptance is conceptualized as a relatively stable and integrative psychological construct that enables individuals to maintain inner coherence, preserve a positive yet realistic self-attitude, and integrate painful or destabilizing experiences without fragmentation of the self. The theoretical framework is grounded in eudaimonic approaches to psychological well-being, self-determination theory, psychosomatic perspectives, and principles of positive psychotherapy.
The empirical study involved 365 participants with diverse socio-demographic characteristics, including individuals experiencing significant life challenges and somatic conditions. A comprehensive set of psychodiagnostic tools was employed to assess psychological well-being, resilience, distress, personality traits, and psychosomatic symptoms. Correlation analysis revealed that self-acceptance is negatively associated with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic symptoms, and somatic complaints, while showing positive associations with resilience, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, hope, emotional stability, openness to experience, and positive interpersonal relationships.
Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that environmental mastery, hope, emotional stability, personal growth, openness to experience, and positive relations with others are the strongest predictors of self-acceptance, collectively explaining a substantial proportion of its variance. Notably, excessive social conformity was found to negatively contribute to self-acceptance, suggesting a distinction between authentic self-integration and externally oriented adaptation.
The findings support the interpretation of self-acceptance as a central psychological mechanism that facilitates adaptive functioning, meaning-making, and preservation of subjectivity under crisis conditions. The results highlight its relevance as a target construct for psychological interventions aimed at enhancing resilience and well-being.
Keywords: self-acceptance; life crisis; psychological well-being; resilience; internal resources; environmental mastery; hope; positive psychotherapy; psychosomatic distress.
Date of receipt of the article: November 13, 2025
Date of recommendation for publication: December 21, 2025
Date of publication: January 30, 2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Liudmyla Serdiuk, Halyna Chernenko