Background This study sought to investigate the mediating effects of rumination and cognitivebehavioural avoidance in the relationship between self-compassion and depression amongst adolescents. Method Ninety nonclinical adolescents completed self-report measures of self-compassion, depressive symptomatology, rumination (reflection and brooding subtypes) and cognitive-behavioural avoidance. Results Results showed that for the relationship between self-compassion and depression, brooding rumination, reflective rumination and total cognitive-behavioural avoidance emerged as significant mediators. Additionally, brooding rumination and cognitivebehavioural avoidance were collectively found to mediate the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms. Conclusion These findings extend previous research from adult samples and suggest that selfcompassion buffers against depressive symptoms by reducing unproductive repetitive thinking and avoidant coping in adolescents. This has important implications for promoting resilience amongst adolescents and helping both the prevention and treatment of adolescent depression.