Abstract

Social isolation is a global issue that has intensified since COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation can be mitigated or exacer- bated by various factors. This study examined the role of two core therapeutic process variables—behavioral activation and self-compassion—in the relationship between depression, social anxiety, and social isolation. Data were collected through an online survey of 300 adults using the Mental Health Screening Tool for Depressive Disorders, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Loneliness and Social Isolation Scale, Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale, and Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form. Pearson correlation, mediation analysis using structural equation modeling, and moderated mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro were conducted using R software. The results indicated that depression, social anxiety, and social isolation were strongly correlated. Furthermore, these variables showed moderate to strong correlations with therapeutic processes. Mediation analyses demonstrated that higher levels of behavioral activation and self-compassion significantly reduced the positive effects of depression and social anxiety on social isolation. Moreover, levels of self-compassion moderated the effect of depression on social isolation, which was mediated by decreased behavioral activation. These findings suggest that inter- vention strategies integrating behavioral activation and self-compassion may effectively prevent and alleviate social isolation within community settings.