Table 4 The direct and indirect effects of variables

Depression → death anxiety

0.28

0.136

4.19

< 0.001

Depression → self-compassion

− 0.36

0.296

8.67

< 0.001

Anxiety → death anxiety

0.30

0.034

7.10

< 0.001

Anxiety → self-compassion

− 0.32

0.016

5.12

< 0.001

Self-compassion → death anxiety

− 0.40

0.078

4.05

< 0.001

Depression → self-compassion → death anxiety

0.065

0.35

− 0.0083

− 0.1654

Anxiety → self-compassion → death anxiety

0.089

0.09

− 0.0247

− 0.1987