Changes In Self-criticism Research Articles

Candidate mechanisms of action of mindfulness-based trauma recovery for refugees (MBTR-R): Self-compassion and self-criticism.

Mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions may represent a promising intervention approach to the global mental health crisis of forced displacement. Specifically, Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery for Refugees (MBTR-R)-a mindfulness- and compassion-based, trauma-sensitive, and socioculturally adapted intervention for refugees and asylum-seekers-has recently demonstrated randomized control evidence of therapeutic efficacy and safety. Yet, little is known about potential mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects for trauma recovery and for refugees and asylum-seekers. Thus, we examined adaptive and maladaptive forms of self-referentiality, namely self-compassion and self-criticism, as mechanisms of action for trauma recovery in a randomized wait-list control trial of MBTR-R among a community sample of 158 traumatized and chronically stressed asylum-seekers (46% female) in an urban postdisplacement setting (Middle East). Self-compassion and self-criticism were measured vis-à-vis an experimental Self-Referential Encoding Task (SRET) designed to quantify cognitive processes underlying self-compassion and self-criticism using diffusion modeling, a computational modeling approach to quantify cognitive processes underlying decision-making from behavioral reaction time data. Findings indicate that self-compassion and self-criticism were associated with trauma- and stress-related psychopathology at preintervention. Relative to wait-list controls, MBTR-R led to significant elevation in self-compassion, and reduction in self-criticism, from pre to postintervention. Finally, pre to postintervention change in self-criticism significantly mediated therapeutic effects of MBTR-R on depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes, while pre to postintervention change in self-compassion only mediated therapeutic effects on PTSD outcomes. Findings speak to the importance of (mal)adaptive self-referentiality as a target mechanism in MBIs and trauma recovery broadly, and among refugees and asylum-seekers specifically. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Change in Self-Criticism Across Emerging Adulthood and Psychological Well-Being at Age 35: The Mediating Role of Reflectivity

Recent conceptualization and research in personality development have shown that significant changes in personality taking place during emerging adulthood where young people tend to become more emotionally mature and stable. In line with these contentions, we examined in a sample of 205 Israeli emerging adults the longitudinal association between change in self-criticism across ages 23 and 29 and positive developmental and psychological well-being outcomes at age 35. In addition, we examined the extent to which the association between change in self-criticism and future outcomes would be mediated through reflectivity. Findings indicated that greater decrease in self-criticism during emerging adulthood associated with greater reflective capability at age 29 and both longitudinally associated with greater achievement of developmental tasks and better psychological well-being at age 35. Additionally, associations of decrease in self-criticism with future outcomes were mediated through reflectivity. These findings point to maturity processes that can explain outcomes in young adulthood.

Does nonsuicidal self-injury prospectively predict change in depression and self-criticism?

Few studies have investigated nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a predictor of outcomes other than suicidal self-injury, severely limiting our understanding of this behavior's full range of consequences. Three independent studies were used to examine the prospective association between NSSI and two outcomes: depressive symptoms and self-criticism. Data were collected from samples of (1) adults with past-month NSSI, (2) adults with lifetime NSSI, and (3) adults with past-year NSSI. Studies included one-month and six-month follow-up periods. Results were tested in an internal meta-analysis. Results suggested that NSSI did not prospectively predict changes in self-criticism. No changes in depressive symptoms were seen over shorter follow-up periods; however, NSSI predicted increases in depressive symptoms at six-month follow-up in one sample. The internal meta-analysis indicated a null relationship between NSSI and prospective internalizing symptoms. Future research should replicate these findings and examine a broader range of outcomes of NSSI to better understand its complex relationship to psychopathology.

The role of change in self-criticism across young adulthood in explaining developmental outcomes and psychological wellbeing.

Past research has confirmed the role of self-criticism in numerous forms of psychopathology and negative interpersonal outcomes. However, the majority of these studies were cross-sectional and have not addressed the role of possible changes in self-criticism across time for future outcomes. The current study investigated the degree to which changes in self-criticism during young adulthood precede better psychological outcomes beyond the contribution of their baseline levels. A total of 168 Israeli emerging adults were followed for 12years. Participants completed assessments of self-criticism at age 23, 24, 26.5, and 29, and of developmental tasks and psychological adaptation at age 35. Analyses assessed the extent to which the intercept and linear slope of self-criticism were associated with assessments of coping with age-related tasks and psychological well-being at age 35. Findings indicated that decreases in self-criticism between the ages of 23 and 29 were associated with better coping with age-related task outcomes and psychological health at age 35. These findings are among the first to show that decreases in self-criticism serve as important precursors of coping with age-related tasks and psychological outcomes and point to the positive contributions of changes in personality attributes for future development.

Self-Criticism, Neediness, and Distress in the Prediction of Suicide Ideation: Results from Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to test whether the maladaptive personality traits of self-criticism and neediness predict suicide ideation when controlling for general distress. Further, potential interactive effects on suicide ideation of the two traits and distress were also evaluated. Two studies with nonclinical samples were conducted. The first investigation was cross-sectional and involved a final sample of 202 community adults while the second study was longitudinal with a final sample of 207 college students. Results of Study 1 demonstrated that self-criticism, but not neediness, associated with suicide ideation and, in doing so, also interacted with distress. Neediness also tended to interact with self-criticism in the prediction of suicide ideation. Results from Study 2 were similar and confirmed the Study 1 results. Changes in self-criticism, but not changes in neediness, predicted changes in suicide ideation after statistically controlling for changes in distress. Changes in the interaction between self-criticism and distress predicted changes in suicide ideation and changes in the interaction between self-criticism and neediness tended to predict changes in suicide ideation. Results are discussed with regard to their implications for psychological intervention.

Self-criticism, intensity of perceived negative life events, and distress: Results from a two-wave study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether changes in the maladaptive personality trait of self-criticism and changes in the interaction between this trait and the intensity of perceived negative life events predict changes in distress over a period of five months. A final sample of 207 young adults participated, responding to the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, the Life Experiences Survey, and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results demonstrated that changes in self-criticism predicted changes in distress over and beyond the prediction associated with assessing the intensity of perceived negative life events. Further, changes in self-criticism and perceived negative life events interacted in the prediction of changes in distress. Findings are discussed in terms of personality characteristics of self-critical individuals and of the construct of resilience.

Compassion focused therapy: Exploring the effectiveness with a transdiagnostic group and potential processes of change.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a compassion focused therapy (CFT) group with a transdiagnostic population, as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). A secondary aim was to explore the potential processes of change within the treatment. A non-randomized control trial was used. Fifty-eight participants who engaged in group CFT were compared to 29 participants receiving TAU. Group CFT consisted of 14 sessions twice weekly for 5weeks and once weekly for 4weeks. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, shame, self-criticism, fears of self-compassion, and social safeness, at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 2-month follow-up. Potential processes of change were examined using correlations and regression analysis. Significantly greater improvements were found for levels of psychopathology, fears of self-compassion and social safeness for CFT, compared to TAU. Additionally, analyses showed improvements in shame and self-criticism within the CFT group but not the TAU group. All improvements were maintained at 2-month follow-up. Improvements in psychopathology were predicted by changes in self-criticism and fears of self-compassion. Compassion focused therapy appears to be an effective group intervention for a range of mental health difficulties. The positive impact of the CFT model with a transdiagnostic group emphasizes the value of addressing underlying psychological process, rather than symptoms alone. Compassion focused therapy is a multimodal therapy designed to target high levels of shame and self-criticism. Compassion focused therapy has been shown previously to have positive results within a range of diagnostic-specific populations. While there is an emerging research base, limited studies assessing effectiveness with transdiagnostic populations have been published. CFT was shown to have a significant effect in reducing levels of psychopathology, compared to TAU. A number of potential processes of change were identified: Changes in psychopathology were significantly correlated with changes in self-criticism and fears of self-compassion.

Compassion-Based Meditation in African Americans: Self-Criticism Mediates Changes in Depression.

This study examines self-criticism as a mechanism through which compassion meditation reduces depressive symptoms in low-income African American men and women (N=59) who had recently attempted suicide. After completing several measures, including the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale and Beck Depression Inventory-II, participants were randomly assigned to receive either a six-session compassion meditation (CM) group (Grady Compassion and Meditation Program) or a six-session support group. As predicted, path analysis results showed that treatment condition led to changes in self-criticism from pre- to posttreatment, with those receiving CM showing greater reductions in levels of self-criticism than those randomized to the support group. Path analyses also revealed that changes in self-criticism fully mediated the link between condition and changes in depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance and value of targeting levels of self-criticism in compassion-based interventions to reduce the depressive symptoms of suicidal African Americans.

Relationships and traumatic events as predictors of depressive styles in high-risk youth

Little research has examined, prospectively, the role of unsupportive relationships and adverse experiences in the development of depressive styles. The current study examined the link between unsupportive relationships (lack of supportive adults, low emotional support from parents, low monitoring by parents) and adverse experiences (injury or illness, crime victimization, child maltreatment, witnessed violence) and depressive styles (dependency and self-criticism) in a sample of 85 low-income, urban youth assessed at ages 14 and 16. Significant predictors of change in self-criticism included: lower emotional support from parents and witnessed family violence. Significant predictors of change in dependency included: lack of supportive adults, low emotional support from parents, and crime victimization, although only crime victimization was significantly predictive in multivariate analyses. Both relationships and adverse experiences appear to play an important role in the development of self-criticism and dependency. The implications for further research and for clinical practice are discussed.

Expressive writing, self‐criticism, and self‐reassurance

Self-criticism and reassurance are important mechanisms for regulating negative emotions but relatively little attention has been paid to interventions aimed at improving them. This study explored the use of an expressive writing task to increase self-reassurance and reduce self-criticism using a randomized controlled design. A total of 46 participants wrote either about life goals (the expressive writing task, n= 23) or a control topic (a review of a recent book or film, n= 23) for 15 min, three times within an hour. Measures of self-criticism/self-reassurance, stress, and positive affect were completed at baseline and at 2-week follow-up. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) was used to analyse the writing of participants in the 'life goals' condition to identify psychological processes that might differentiate those who improved and those who did not. While there were no significant changes in self-reported stress or positive affect, participants writing about life goals decreased in their levels of self-criticism at 2-week follow-up relative to participants writing about control topics. Text analysis showed that experimental participants using words that imply the possibility of doubt or failure, including use of the subjunctive tense (e.g., could, would, should), were least likely to decrease their self-criticism. CONCLUSION. Expressive writing shows promise as a means by which people may decrease in their self-criticism. Future research should determine whether such experimentally induced changes in self-criticism lead to the improvements in psychological health that is implied by previous cross-sectional research.

Self-Criticism and Dependency in Depressed Patients Treated with Cognitive Therapy or Pharmacotherapy

The current study aimed to assess the role of self-criticism and dependency in response to cognitive therapy (CT) or pharmacotherapy (PT). It was hypothesized that (a) self-criticism would moderate treatment outcome to CT and PT, and (b) the degree of change in self-criticism and the relationship of this change to treatment response would be greater for patients treated with CT than for patients treated with PT. A sample of outpatients with unipolar major depression received either CT (n = 51) or PT (n = 58). Neither pretreatment self-criticism and dependency scores nor self-criticism and dependency change scores were found to predict response to PT. Treatment response to CT, however, was associated with pretreatment self-criticism scores and pre- and post-self-criticism change scores. Although highly self-critical patients were more likely to have a poor response to CT, the degree to which self-criticism was successfully reduced in treatment was shown to be the best predictor of treatment response to CT.