Differences In Self-compassion Research Articles

The Role of Self-Compassion and Attributions in the Mental Health of Older Adolescents amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to examine the relationship among self-compassion, attributional styles, and mental health and their components in older adolescents in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of each component of self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification) and attributions (globality, stability, self-worth, and negative consequences) in predicting mental health was also analyzed. There were 322 participants aged 18 to 22 that participated in an online survey. The participants filled out a form that consisted of sociodemographic questions, COVID-19-related questions, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Mental Health Continuum-short form-and the Cognitive Styles Questionnaire-very short form. The results indicated moderate levels of self-compassion, attributions, and mental health in participants. Furthermore, gender differences in self-compassion were confirmed, meaning that male participants had higher total levels of self-compassion, and certain differences were observed on attribution subscales, but not on well-being subscales. Self-compassion and mental health were found to be positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with negative attributions. Of the four attributional components, stability and negative consequences were revealed to be significant negative predictors in the first step but lost their significance with the inclusion of self-compassion components in the second step of the analysis. Regarding the six components of self-compassion, self-kindness, recoded isolation, and common humanity were significant positive predictors in the second step of the analysis. COVID-19-related items did not show any significant intergroup differences. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between positive mental health, self-compassion, and attributions in older adolescents so that they can be used as theoretical support for related interventions, especially during and after times of crisis, such as a pandemic.

Self-compassion as a mediator of the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and psychotic symptoms in clinical and non-clinical groups.

Previous research has shown a link between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and more severe symptoms of psychosis. There is also evidence that self-compassion is a key mechanism linking adverse childhood experiences and mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, but no research has examined these links in psychosis. We analysed existing cross-sectional data, including 55 individuals with psychosis and 166 individuals from the general population. Participants completed standardized measures of CSA, self-compassion, paranoia, positive psychotic symptoms and distress linked to psychosis. The clinical group had higher scores on CSA and all psychosis measures, but we found no differences in self-compassion between the groups. Higher levels of CSA correlated with lower self-compassion and higher paranoia and positive symptoms in both groups. CSA also correlated with distress linked to psychosis in the non-clinical group. Lower self-compassion mediated the association between higher levels of CSA and more severe paranoia in both groups. In the non-clinical group, lower self-compassion also mediated the association between greater CSA and more positive psychotic symptoms and more severe distress. This is the first study to show that self-compassion mediates the link between CSA and both paranoia and psychotic symptoms in adulthood. Self-compassion may therefore be an important transdiagnostic candidate target in therapy to mitigate the impact of early adversity on paranoia in both clinical and non-clinical groups. Limitations include the small clinical sample and inclusion of a cannabis-using non-clinical sample, though recent cannabis use did not impact self-compassion levels.

Feasibility of a Loving Kindness Intervention for Mitigating Weight Stigma in Nursing Students: A Focus on Self-Compassion.

Preliminary research on self-compassion as a target for reducing forms of bias is promising, yet healthcare provider self-compassion has not yet been explored in relationship to weight bias. Healthcare providers commonly endorse weight stigma and bias, contributing to health disparities for patients with "obesity." The current study explores the feasibility of the self-compassion loving kindness meditation (LKM) as a brief intervention that reduces weight bias in nursing students. Participants (189 nursing students) were randomly assigned to the LKM condition or body scan control condition before engaging in an implicit bias task and answering self-report measures of internalization of the thin ideal, weight bias, positive attitudes towards people with "obesity," positive emotions, self-compassion, cognitive flexibility, and compassionate care. Statistically significant differences in self-compassion, cognitive flexibility, weight bias, and compassionate care failed to be found between the groups. Participants in the LKM condition endorsed significantly higher levels of positive emotionality compared to the control condition. Higher levels of self-compassion were related to lower levels of weight bias for participants in both conditions. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that internalization of the thin ideal and self-compassion accounted for 19.2% of the variance in positive attitudes towards people with "obesity." This study suggests the importance of examining self- and other-compassion in the context of weight stigma. Its findings exemplify the complexity of weight stigma and the need to further explore the mechanisms to be targeted to effectively reduce healthcare professionals' bias. This study is not preregistered.

Exploring Self-Compassion among Recreational Dancers: Differences Between Tango and Ballet - Dance Teaching Implications Through Somatic and Embodied Disciplines

Self-compassion is considered a protective factor that promotes positive psychology, happiness, emotional regulation and embodiment. Self‐compassion offers an approach wherein individuals in dance can pursue optimal participation and performance without compromising health and well‐being. The present study aimed to explore self-compassion among recreational dancers and discover possible differences between tango and ballet. More specifically the study examined: i) the levels of self-compassion in recreational tango and ballet dancers; ii) differences in self-compassion according to demographic characteristics; and iii) differences between tango and ballet dancers. The research was based on several adults from various cities in Greece who participated in tango and ballet for recreational reasons during their leisure time. One hundred and ninety-one dancers (20 men and 171 women), between the ages of 17 and 62, completed the self-compassion scale of Mantzios, Wilson and Giannou (2015), which consists of twenty-six items. The answers were given on a five-point Likert scale, while the reliability of the scale was successfully tested. In addition, the questionnaire contained the collection of other data such as demographic characteristics. According to the first aim, the high scores on self-compassion among recreational dancers showed a relationship between self-compassion and dance, and a positive influence of ballet and tango practice. The second hypothesis was partially confirmed as statistically significant differences emerged only between the age groups with those over forty years of age to show higher levels of self-compassion. Regarding the third aim of the research, differences were found between types of dance. Tango participants showed higher levels of self-compassion than ballet participants. Specific dance teaching interventions are discussed based on somatic and embodiment theory, to create healthier mental, emotional and behavioral patterns for dancers, schools, academies or companies.
 
 Received: 2 August 2022 / Accepted: 20 October 2022 / Published: 5 November 2022

Gender differences in self-compassion: a latent profile analysis of compassionate and uncompassionate self-relating in a large adolescent sample

Self-compassion, a healthy way of relating to oneself, may promote psychological resilience during adolescence. How adolescents engage with self-compassion, and whether they have distinct self-compassionate or uncompassionate psychological profiles, is unclear. This study investigated potential self-compassion profiles based on responses to the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF) and examined their relationship with a range of mental health symptoms and cognitive and emotional tendencies. A large cross-sectional sample of high school students (N = 950; Mage = 13.70 years, SDage = 0.72, range = 12 to 16 years; 434 female and 495 male) completed several online self-report measures including the SCS-SF. Latent profile analysis identified parsimonious self-compassion profiles by gender using the six SCS-SF subscales. Five female profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’, ‘Uncompassionate’, ‘High Self-Relating’, ‘Moderately Compassionate’ and ‘Highly Compassionate’. Comparatively, two male profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’ and ‘Moderately Self-Relating’. Low Self-Relating involved low levels of both compassionate and uncompassionate responding, and Moderately Self-Relating involved higher levels of both. Low Self-Relating and Highly Compassionate profiles for females consistently reported lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, repetitive thinking and avoidance-fusion thinking patterns compared to the other female profiles. Low Self-Relating males reported more adaptive outcomes compared to Moderate Self-Relating males. These findings illustrate important adolescent gender differences in compassionate and uncompassionate self-response profiles. Results suggest self-compassion is an important psychological construct with diverse mental health benefits for females, whereas for males a lack of attachment to either response styles are linked with better psychological outcomes.

Self-compassion and barriers to self-compassion in physicians at a NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center (396)

<b>Objectives:</b> Physician compassion is associated with improved patient outcomes, including patient satisfaction and compliance. Compassion for oneself has been shown to ameliorate burnout and anxiety in physicians. Self-compassion is an adaptive coping mechanism to respond to uncertainty and challenges. Self-compassion encompasses three components: self-kindness versus self-judgment, a sense of common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification with painful thoughts and emotions. Our objective was to evaluate self-compassion across physicians at a comprehensive cancer center and identify differences in self-compassion according to workplace factors and demographic variables. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study of physicians employed at an NCI- designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in December 2019 using a 115-question instrument that included multiple validated measures of wellbeing, including the Neff's Self-Compassion Scale short form (SCS-SF). SCS-SF is a 12-item scale scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Professional Fulfilment Index (PFI), a 16-item measure, evaluating burnout and fulfillment, was included. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVAs, and Pearson's correlations. <b>Results:</b> One hundred and seventy-three surveys were collected with a response rate of 46.6%. Respondents were 63% male and 36% female. The majority of participants were aged 30-49 years, and subspecialty was evenly distributed. There were differences in selfcompassion scores across self-reported gender in the subscales of over-identification, common humanity, and mindfulness (Table 1). Increasing age and years of clinical experience were associated with better scores on the overidentified sub-scales (p=0.009, p=0.005). Self-compassion was not statistically associated with a subspecialty, hours worked, or percentage of clinical time. Respondents with children at home had greater scores in the common humanity subscale (p=0.039). Self-compassion composite mean and subscales scores (except over-identification) were positively correlated with all categories of physician support. Performance on all PFI subscales correlated with self-compassion. Participants that met the criteria for burnout had lower scores on all the SCS subscales. <b>Conclusions:</b> Physicians with higher self-compassion experience better professional well-being, more work engagement, and less work exhaustion. In this study of physicians at a large NCC, we identified several groups with lower self-compassion scores, including females, those with burnout, and those with lower job satisfaction. Additionally, increasing age and clinical experience were positively correlated with higher self-compassion, as were nearly all types of reported support. As self-compassion is a learned skill that can be fostered, these findings suggest that there are multiple cohorts of physicians that may benefit from additional institutional-sponsored interventions and enhanced support.

Do Self-Compassion Factors Affect Value-Based Behavior Promotion for Adolescents? The Context of Behavioral Activation.

Behavioral activation has been shown to engender improvement of depressive symptoms. Behavioral activation specifically addresses behavioral patterns that maintain depressive symptoms and increases activation of rewarding behaviors based on a person’s own values. Nevertheless, behaving according to those values can be difficult. Consequently, discussing reduction in barriers to activation of value-based behaviors is important. Self-compassion might promote value-based behavior when a person confronts some obstacle. We evaluated differences in self-compassion and behavioral characteristics at high and low levels of value-based behaviors. Furthermore, we examined relations of self-compassion to value-based behaviors while considering activation, avoidance, and positive reinforcement in the context of behavioral activation. All 800 university student participants (415 women, 385 men; mean age=20.47years; age range 18–24years) in this study completed assessments. Descriptive statistics, MANOVA, and stepwise regression analysis relations elucidated their value-based behavior, self-compassion, and behavioral characteristics. Results suggest that participants who behaved according to values had high levels of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Results of stepwise regression analyses suggest as a new finding that positive components of self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) are related to value-based behaviors even when behavioral factors are considered in the context of behavioral activation.

Efficacy of Guided Versus Self-Induced Learning of Web-Based Self-Compassionate Journaling by College Students

Abstract We conducted 3 studies examining the efficacy of web-based self-compassionate journaling (SCJ). The goal was to compare the effects of guided and self-administered journaling on self-reported follow-up self-compassion scores and participant perceptions of the induction. In Study 1 participants were randomly assigned to an online SCJ exercise, online narrative journaling control group, or attention control (AC) group, with groups completing tasks for 4 weeks. In Study 2 participants self-selected into either online or in-lab conditions to complete a single-time SCJ exercise. Study 3 was a replication of Study 2, with participants being randomly assigned to conditions. There were no differences in self-compassion between groups in Study 1. However, there was a small but significant overall increase in self-compassion among participants from baseline to follow-up. There were self-compassion differences between online and in-lab groups in Study 2 (with a small effect size). However, these differences were not maintained when the covariate of baseline trait self-compassion was removed from analyses. Study 3 failed to replicate significant findings from Study 2 in all but one variable: whether participants completing the induction alone found the task more difficult to complete. In general, SCJ may not be an adequate way to increase self-compassion regardless of whether it is learned online or in a laboratory setting. Furthermore, those who learn SCJ alone online report difficulty in completing the induction.

Self-compassion and Perceived Criticism in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ObjectivesAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased criticism from others. To date, there is little research considering the consequences of how others respond to people with ADHD. Self-compassion is a positive way of relating to oneself during difficulty. Here, we investigate whether levels of self-compassion differ between people with and without ADHD, and whether perceived criticism mediates any differences in self-compassion between people with and without ADHD.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used to conduct natural group comparisons. A sample of 1203 adults (46% with a self-reported ADHD diagnosis) recruited via social media, online forums and posters completed online self-report measures of diagnostic status, ADHD traits, self-compassion and perceived criticism. Between-group comparisons of self-compassion and perceived criticism were conducted on participants grouped by diagnosis, then grouped by ADHD trait severity. Perceived criticism was tested as a mediator variable between ADHD diagnosis and self-compassion.ResultsAdults with an ADHD diagnosis showed significantly lower self-compassion and higher perceived criticism than the participants without ADHD. Participants high in ADHD traits but without a diagnosis had significantly similar levels of self-compassion to the diagnosed group. Mediation analysis found that higher perceived criticism partially explained the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and self-compassion, even after accounting for co-occurring mood disorder diagnosis.ConclusionsAdults with ADHD are less self-compassionate than adults without ADHD. This is partially explained by the higher level of criticism they perceive from others.

Using multiple character strengths to inform young adults’ self-compassion: The potential of hope and forgiveness

ABSTRACT Self-compassion is an adaptive means of relating to the self during times of distress. Character strengths include a set of traits and values that ultimately uplift the self and others. Although self-compassion is known to be associated with multiple character strengths, there remain opportunities to address whether particular strengths uniquely inform individual differences in self-compassion. Using three studies, strengths of curiosity, grit, gratitude, hope, and forgiveness were considered to determine which strengths provided unique information for reports of self-compassion. Results showed that hope and forgiveness were robustly associated with self-compassion when these strengths were studied simultaneously (Studies 1 and 2) and alongside Big Five covariates (Study 2). Study 3 showed that the effects of hope and forgiveness on self-compassion were comparable between college- and community-recruited young adults. Overall, findings suggest that hope and forgiveness may be promising targets to further understand, and ultimately promote, self-compassion.

العنف الزواجي وعلاقته بالشفقة بالذات في ضوء بعض المتغيرات الديموجرافية

هدف البحث إلى الکشف عن مستوى العنف الزواجي والشفقة بالذات، والوزن النسبي لأبعاد الشفقة بالذات لدى أفراد عينة البحث ، والعلاقة الارتباطية بين العنف الزواجي والشفقة بالذات، ومعرفة الفروق بين متوسط درجات أفراد العينة في العنف الزواجي والشفقة بالذات تبعا لبعض المتغيرات الديموجرافية، واختلاف نسبة مشارکة العوامل المؤثرة على الشفقة بالذات، وتکونت العينة من (720) زوج وزوجة، منهم (324) زوج، و(396) زوجة سعوديين ومصريين، واعتمدت الباحثة للتحقق من هذه الأهداف على مقياس العنف الزواجي نسخة (للزوج، الزوجة) من إعدادها، ومقياس الشفقة بالذات إعداد(Neff ,2003) تعريب عبدالرحمن؛ العمري؛ العاسمي والضبع (٢٠١٥)، وأوضحت النتائج وجود علاقة ارتباطية عکسية بين محاور مقياس العنف الزواجي وبعض محاور مقياس الشفقة بالذات الرحمة بالذات، الإنسانية العامة، اليقظة العقلية عند مستوى دلالة (0,01) ، (0,05)، ووجود علاقة ارتباطية طردية بين محاور مقياس العنف الزواجي وبعض محاور مقياس الشفقة بالذات الحکم الذاتي، العزلة، الإفراط في التوحد عند مستوى دلالة (0,01) ، (0,05)، کما تم التوصل إلى أن الأزواج کان العنف لديهم أکثر من الزوجات، والسعوديين کان العنف لديهم أکثر من المصريين، ووجدت فروق بين درجات أفراد العينة في العنف الزواجي تبعا لمتغير المستوى التعليمي لصالح المستوى الأقل في التعليم، ولمتغير عدد سنوات الزواج لصالح مدة الزواج الأقل، ومتغير الدخل الشهري لصالح ذوي الدخل المنخفض، وبالنسبة لمتغير الشفقة بالذات نجد أنها کانت أعلي لدى الزوجات من الأزواج، وعند عينة المصريين أکثر من السعوديين، ووجدت فروق بين درجات أفراد العينة في الشفقة بالذات تبعا لمتغير المستوى التعليمي لصالح الحاصلين على الشهادة الجامعية ولمتغير عدد سنوات الزواج لصالح سنوات الزواج 15سنة فأکثر، ومتغير الدخل الشهري لصالح ذوي الدخل الشهري المرتفع، کما أن مستوى التعليم کان من أکثر العوامل المؤثرة على الشفقة بالذات بنسبة (85%)، يليه العلاقة الزوجية بنسبة (74,1%)، ثم عدد سنوات الزواج بنسبة (68,1%)، وفي المرتبة الأخيرة صلة القرابة بنسبة (62,7%). Abstract This study aimed to reveal the relationship between marital violence and self-Compassion, and to specify the differences in spousal violence and self-Compassion, in accordance to some demographic variables. In addition, the study considered the variation in the influencing factors contribution rate to self-Compassion. The study sample included (720) husbands and wives of Saudi and Egyptian spouses, consisting of (324) husbands and (396) wives. To realize the study’s objectives, the researcher developed and used the spousal violence scale with distinct husband and wife versions. The self-Compassion scale (Neff, 2003) was also used, translated to Arabic by Abd Al-Rahman, Ali Al-Amri, Al-Asmi and Al-Dabae (2015). The results indicated a negative relation between the factors of the spousal violence scale and some of the self-Compassion scale factors including self-mercy, general humanity and mental alertness with a significance level (0,01), (0,05). On the other hand, a positive correlation was found between the factors of the spousal violence scale and other self- Compassion factors including autonomy, isolation and excessive autism, with a significance level (0,01), (0,05). The results also indicated that husbands were more violent than wives, and Saudis were more violent than Egyptian. Differences were found in violence scores among respondent couples depending on their education level in favour of the lower level of education. Differences dependent on the number of marriage years were also noticed in favour of shorter marriage periods. In addition, couples’ monthly income also affected the violence scores in favour of low income couples. With respect to the self-Compassion, high scores were noticed among wives compared to husbands. Egyptian respondents scored higher self-Compassion scores compared to Saudis. There were differences in self-Compassion scores depending on respondents’ educational levels in favour to respondents who holding Master and PhD degrees. Self-Compassion score differences were also found depending on the number of marriage years in favour to fifteen years marriage old and more and the monthly income variable in favour of high income couples. Educational level was the most influencing factors on self-Compassion with (85%), followed by the martial relationship with (74,1%), the number of marriage years (68.1%) and finally, the least influencing factor was kinship relationship (62,7%).

What matters most? Age and gender differences in self-compassion and body attitudes among college students

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological relationships between perceptions of the self and body of college students by examining self-compassion and specific body attitudes (body comparison and body esteem) among both men and women. An age diverse sample of 299 students (98 men, 201 women; age range of 18–57 years) from a large southwestern American university participated. Self-esteem was determined to be a confounding influence in the relationships between self-compassion and body attitudes, suggesting body esteem and comparison may be subsumed under the broader theoretical construct of self-esteem. After controlling for self-esteem, we found that gender and age explained some of the disparities in self-compassion and other body attitudes of interest. Differential results for age groups for self-compassion emerged, as did differential results for men’s and women’s self-compassion and body attitude levels. Limitations of the study, directions for future research, and clinical applications for counseling psychologists are discussed.

Self-compassion among social workers

SummaryIn recent years, the practice of self-compassion has garnered increasing attention in the literature, yet little is known about self-compassion in the field of social work. The purpose of this cross-sectional exploratory study was to examine self-compassion among social workers (N = 1011) located in a state in the southeastern United States. Specifically, this study was guided by two distinct, yet interconnected research queries: (1) How self-compassionate are social workers and (2) what personal and professional factors contribute to self-compassion among social workers?FindingsFindings suggest social workers are fairly self-compassionate. Significant group differences in self-compassion exist by perceived health status (self-report), relationship status, social work licensing, and professional organization affiliation. Significant predictors of self-compassion included health status, educational level, and relationship status (in descending order of predictive power).ApplicationsAdept and ethical social work practice requires that practitioners engage in self-compassionate practices. This study offers pragmatic implications for social work practice, including training and apposite areas for research.

Self-Compassion, Social Constraints, and Psychosocial Outcomes in a Pet Bereavement Sample.

This study investigated self-compassion in the context of grief following the death of a companion animal in a recently bereaved sample (N = 431). We addressed social contexts and individual differences focusing on how psychosocial outcomes vary as a function of social constraints, as well as individual differences in self-compassion and use of continuing bonds (CB). We observed that self-compassion related to the frequency of engagement in CB. Self-compassion also moderated relationships between grief severity and depression as well as social constraints and depression. We recommend future research on self-compassion training and psychosocial outcomes, especially for those experiencing social constraints or disenfranchised grief.

Gender Differences in Self-Compassion: Examining the Role of Gender Role Orientation

Meta-analytic research suggests that women have slightly lower levels of self-compassion than men, but the contribution of gender role orientation has not been carefully explored. The current study examines the joint associations of self-identified gender and gender role orientation with self-compassion in undergraduate (N = 504) and community adult (N = 968) samples, using two measures of gender role orientation. The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) were used to classify each participant into a single gender role orientation category based on relative scores on the masculinity and femininity subscales, with respect to the sample, and average scores for each continuous subscale were also retained. The categorical gender role orientation classifications were used in mean comparisons of self-compassion across groups, and the average masculinity and femininity subscale scores were used in regression modeling. Results replicated the small effect size for gender differences in self-compassion for both samples, with self-identified men having significantly higher levels of self-compassion than self-identified women. Results also consistently showed that the impact of self-identified gender on self-compassion was smaller than the impact of masculine gender role orientation, suggesting that socialization plays a strong role, and that those high in both femininity and masculinity tended to have the highest levels of self-compassion. Effect sizes and specific findings differed by gender, sample, and gender role orientation measure. Therefore, a nuanced understanding of differences in self-compassion based on gender and gender role orientation is needed.

Individual Differences in Self-Compassion According to Parenting Styles and Children's Temperamental Types: Application of Latent Profile Analysis

Individual Differences in Self-Compassion According to Parenting Styles and Children's Temperamental Types: Application of Latent Profile Analysis

Self-Compassion as the Predictor of Flourishing of the Students

The study aimed to examine the impacts of self-compassion and gender on the human flourishing of the participants. Five hundred undergraduate and postgraduate students with an equal number of male and female served as the participants in the study. The age of the male participants ranged from 17 years to 25 years (M = 20.13, SD = 2.15) whereas the age of female participants spanned from 18 years to 25 years (M = 19.89, SD = 1.85). Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003a) and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Keyes, 2005) were employed to measure the self-compassion and flourishing of the participants, respectively. The results of the study exhibited no gender differences in self-compassion and flourishing of the male and female participants. The male and female participants with low, average and high levels of self-compassion differed significantly in their evocation of mean scores of flourishing. The results of the study also evinced that scores on self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness components of self-compassion demonstrated positive correlations with the hedonic human flourishing, social well-being, psychological well-being, eudaimonic human flourishing and overall human flourishing. Contrarily, the scores of self-judgement were found to be negatively correlated with the scores of human flourishing and its components of the male, female and all the participants. It is evident that the positive components of self-compassion were positively correlated with the different components of human flourishing. Lastly, the results of the study demonstrated that the scores on self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness components of self-compassion accounted for significant variance in the scores of hedonic human flourishing, social well-being, psychological well-being, eudaimonic human flourishing and overall human flourishing. Conversely, the variance caused by the scores of self-judgement, isolation and over-identification parts of self-compassion in the scores of these measures was low and statistically non-significant positive. The results of the study have significant implications for the researchers, academicians, laymen, counselors and clinical psychologists. The findings of the present study have been discussed in the light of current theories of self-compassion and human flourishing. The limitations and future directions for research have also been discussed.

A autocompaixão em mulheres e relações com autoestima, autoeficácia e aspectos sociodemográficos

Studies show that women, compared to men, are more affected by symptoms of depression and anxiety. One way to counteract these symptoms is by self-compassion. In a previous Brazilian study, women showed lower self-compassion than men. The present study investigated differences in self-compassion in 327 women with regard to self-esteem, self-efficacy and sociodemographic aspects. The participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and self-compassion, self-esteem and self-efficacy scales. T tests examined age and sociodemographic differences. The significant differences found for self-compassion were: be over 30 years of age, to practice a religion, not use psychiatric medication and have children. This study allowed for the identification of variables that suggest directions for further research about self-compassion in women. One example is the question of the relationship between having children and greater self-compassion, which may suggest that maternal skills and parenting styles can play an important role in this matter.

A daily diary study of self-compassion, body image, and eating behavior in female college students

Although self-compassion is associated with healthier body image and eating behavior, these findings have generally emerged at the between-persons level only. The present study investigated the unique contributions of within-person variability in self-compassion, and between-persons differences in self-compassion, to body image and eating behavior. Over seven days, 92 female college students completed nightly measures of self-compassion, self-esteem, dietary restraint, intuitive eating, body appreciation, body satisfaction, and state body image. Multilevel modeling revealed that within-persons, day-to-day fluctuations in self-compassion contributed to day-to-day fluctuations in body image and eating. Between-persons, participants’ average levels of self-compassion across days contributed to their average levels of body image and eating over the week. Results generally held when controlling for within- and between-persons self-esteem. Evidently, the eating and body image benefits of self-compassion may come not only from being a generally self-compassionate person, but also from treating oneself more self-compassionately than usual on a given day.

Self-compassion and insomnia at pregnancy

IntroductionMindfulness based programs during pregnancy (some including self-compassion components) increase self-compassion, mindfulness and maternal self-efficacy, and reduce anxiety, stress and psychological distress in pregnant women. According to our knowledge, there are no studies about the association between self-compassion and sleep outcomes in pregnancy.ObjectiveTo explore differences in self-compassion, between three sleep groups, in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.MethodsFour hundred and nineteen pregnant women (mean age: 32.51 ± 4.759; weeks of gestation: 17.32 ± 4.803) completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS, Bento et al., 2015), presenting six dimensions (self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness and over-identification) and the Insomnia Assessment Scale (Marques et al., 2015). Three sleep groups were formed: good sleepers (no insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment); insomnia symptoms groups (one/more insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment); insomniacs (one/more insomnia symptoms; daily associated impairment).ResultsThere were significant differences in the total SCS, self-judgment, isolation and over-identification scores, between sleep groups [respectively, F (2,396) = 7,926, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,409) = 19,155, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,410) = 13,016, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,412) = 11,258, P ≤ 0,001]. Self-judgement, isolation and over-identification scores of good sleepers and insomnia symptoms group were higher than of insomniacs. Total SCS score of good sleepers was higher than of insomniacs and the same score of symptoms of insomnia group was also higher than of insomniacs.ConclusionsResults seem to show the importance of developing self-compassion to improve sleep in pregnancy or reduce the impact of insomnia symptoms (common at pregnancy).Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.