Fear of compassion is associated with treatment ambivalence and negative expectations for treatment in people with anxiety.

Abstract

Fears of compassion are hypothesized to be associated with treatment attitudes, but this relationship has not yet been explored. Measures of fear of compassion and treatment expectations and ambivalence were administered to those with above-average anxiety (N=302) and those who met criteria for an anxiety or related disorder (N=40). In those with anxiety disorders, fear of receiving compassion and fear of self-compassion were strongly correlated with treatment ambivalence. In both samples, higher fear of receiving compassion was associated with more negative expectations for treatment. Fear of compassion is associated with treatment ambivalence and treatment expectations and may be an important target early in treatment. Fears of receiving compassion and self-compassion were related to treatment ambivalence and negative treatment expectations There may be benefit in targeting fear of compassion early in treatment.