Abstract
In contrast to the increased research interest in the benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, relatively few studies have examined their unique and combined effects in predicting affect. This cross-sectional study examined the predictive value of mindfulness and self-compassion for depressive symptoms, negative affect, and positive affect in a large representative sample of community adults (N = 1736). The Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) was used as a measure of mindfulness and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) as a measure of self-compassion. Five FFMQ facets were explored: observe, describe, act with awareness, non-judgment, and non-reactivity. Two SCS facets were explored: its positive items (SCS Pos) and its negative items (SCS Neg). When simultaneously examining all seven facets of mindfulness and self-compassion, three of the five FFMQ facets and SCS Neg significantly predicted both depressive symptoms and negative affect, with SCS Neg and act with awareness being the strongest predictors. These findings suggest that a harsh attitude towards oneself and a lack of attention when acting have the greatest value in predicting the presence of psychological symptoms. With respect to positive affect, four of the five FFMQ facets (except non-judgment) were significant predictors, with no unique predictive value of the two SCS’s facets, suggesting that mindfulness is a more important predictor of positive affect than self-compassion, as measured by the FFMQ and SCS.
Highlights
During the last decades, the western world has seen a flourishing of interest in the practice of mindfulness with an increased number of studies investigating its benefits and those of mindfulness-based interventions (Fjorback et al 2011)
Psychologists have moved their attention towards the study of self-compassion, a construct closely related to mindfulness
Self-compassion has proven to be beneficial for psychological health, with a meta-analysis showing that higher levels of self-compassion are associated with lower psychological symptoms (MacBeth and Gumley 2012)
Summary
The western world has seen a flourishing of interest in the practice of mindfulness with an increased number of studies investigating its benefits and those of mindfulness-based interventions (Fjorback et al 2011). Mindfulness, a concept rooted in Buddhist mediation traditions, involves being aware of the present experience, by paying attention on purpose and without judgment (KabatZinn 1994). Empirical reviews have shown that mindfulness has beneficial effects on psychological health, such as reduced psychological symptoms and increased subjective wellbeing (Keng et al 2011; Khoury et al 2013). Psychologists have moved their attention towards the study of self-compassion, a construct closely related to mindfulness. Self-compassion, rooted in Buddhist traditions, is commonly defined as treating oneself with kindness and understanding when facing suffering, seeing one’s failures as part of the human condition, and having a balanced awareness of painful thoughts and emotions (Neff 2003a). Self-compassion has proven to be beneficial for psychological health, with a meta-analysis showing that higher levels of self-compassion are associated with lower psychological symptoms (MacBeth and Gumley 2012)
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