High Self-criticism Research Articles

Effortless perfectionism and its relationship with body dissatisfaction, and pathological eating and exercise: the mediating role of self-kindness and self-criticism

ABSTRACT Objective The current study investigated the interrelationships between effortless perfectionism (a desire to appear perfect without outward displays of effort) and body dissatisfaction, pathological eating, and pathological exercise. In addition, the mediating role of self-kindness and self-criticism in these relationships was explored. Method Using a cross-sectional design, undergraduate students (N = 497) were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires assessing these key variables. Results Effortless perfectionism was indirectly positively associated with more severe body dissatisfaction and pathological eating/exercise, via higher levels of self-criticism (controlling for self-kindness). By contrast, after controlling for self-criticism, self-kindness did not mediate the relationships between effortless perfectionism and body dissatisfaction, pathological eating, or pathological exercise Conclusions Self-criticism uniquely emerged as a mediating mechanism; the desire for effortless perfection was associated with higher self-criticism, which in turn was linked with worsened symptomatology. By contrast, self-kindness did not emerge as a unique mediating mechanism in this context. Longitudinal research would be useful to establish the effect of situational context, and possible reciprocal relationships between self-kindness and self-criticism over time.

The development of the Japanese version of the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (J-FSCRS): implications for cross-cultural research on self-criticism and self-reassurance

ABSTRACT People with high self-criticism tend to suffer from poor mental health whereas those with high self-reassurance tend to have good mental health. Poor mental health is a great cause for concern in Japan. Many people in Japan live with mental health issues, and the suicide rate is high. In particular, the mental health of caring professionals in Japan is devastated. However, there is no established measure to assess the levels of self-criticism and self-reassurance in the Japanese language. The Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) has been actively used in mental health research. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop the Japanese version of FSCRS (J-FSCRS). 300 nurses and 120 psychologists in Japan responded to an online survey containing J-FSCRS and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Confirmatory factor analyses and a Pearson's correlation analysis were conducted. J-FSCRS is proven to be reliable to assess self-criticism and self-reassurance in the Japanese language.

The role of self-criticism and self-compassion in the development of PTSD among midwives

ObjectiveHealthcare providers might develop emotional distress following direct and indirect exposure to traumatic events. Evidence shows that midwives, who care for women in complicated situations, are often exposed to circumstances that have a potential to lead to a variety of psychological reactions, including symptoms identified with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, the positive-healthy context in which childbirth is mainly perceived raises questions regarding the protective role of personality traits, which are related to processing methods of stress and pain, in the development of PTSD among this unique population. This study aimed to explore the associations between traits such as self-compassion, self-criticism, resilience, cognitive thinking, and pain catastrophizing and PTSD symptoms among Israeli midwives. SettingUsing a quantitative cross-sectional study,123 midwives from ten hospitals in Israel anonymously reported their characteristics and severity of stress and/or PTSD symptoms by filling out the Psychopathy Checklist questionnaire. Analysis of personality traits was performed via the following questionnaires: Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form, Depressive Experiences Questionnaire - Self Criticism, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Additionally, we measured the level of catastrophizing pain by employing the Pain Catastrophizing Scale questionnaire. FindingsMost of the midwives reported existing post-trauma symptoms, among them 11.38% had been diagnosed with PTSD. Severity of the PTSD correlated with their self-criticism and the pain catastrophizing rates. Additional examination of the involvement of personality traits showed that midwives with high self-criticism, low mental resilience, besides a high rate of pain catastrophizing, were more vulnerable to developing PTSD. ConclusionsThe findings can help to refine the understanding regarding the involvement of midwives' personality characteristics in the process of PTSD onset. Vulnerable midwives have been identified as those at risk to develop PTSD symptoms. Implications for practiceThe clinical significance of these insights is to promote the ability to identify midwives who are at risk to develop PTSD. Furthermore, this information might help to produce training programs and a support network to empower self-compassion and mental resilience, and to minimize self-criticism in order establish a support network, which would help to deal with the difficult experiences they face at work.

Examining state self-criticism and self-efficacy as factors underlying hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

When people feel hopeless, they are more likely to think about suicide. Prior work has shown that both hopelessness and suicidal ideation fluctuate over time; however, there are likely other contextual factors underlying increased hopelessness and suicidal ideation in moments of time. In two studies using retrospective recall of a real event (Study 1, n = 268) and an experimental imaginal vignette design (Study 2, n = 356), we examined self-criticism and self-efficacy for self-regulation as crucial factors underlying hopelessness in people vulnerable to suicidal ideation. In both studies, greater state self-criticism and lower state self-efficacy were associated with greater hopelessness. In Study 2, we also measured suicidal ideation, and found that higher self-criticism and lower self-efficacy for self-regulation scores were associated with greater suicidal ideation, even when controlling for negative affect. Evidence of an interaction between self-criticism and self-efficacy was found with scores in Study 2 but not in Study 1; specifically, lower self-efficacy was associated with greater ideation when self-criticism was high but not when self-criticism was low. Overall, results support self-criticism and self-efficacy as important contextual factors underlying hopelessness and suicidal ideation and attending to the potential interactive effect between self-criticism and self-efficacy.

Exploring the role of compassion, self-criticism and the dark triad on obesity and emotion regulation

Emotion regulation and/or obesity have been linked to compassion, self-criticism and ‘dark’ personality traits but the relationship between these factors is unclear as most research has focused on the big five personality traits. Here, we investigated the influence of dark personality traits on emotional dysregulation, compassion and BMI. 300 participants completed measures of emotion dysregulation, compassion, self-criticism and dark tetrad personality traits; also providing their BMI. MLR revealed psychopathy, high self-criticism and low compassion ‘for self’ predicted poor emotion regulation; accounting for > 50% of the variance. Whilst their effects on BMI were also significant, no factors singularly predicted BMI. Our research offers important insights into the complexity of factors that may contribute to poor emotion regulation. Of novel value, we found a link between self-compassion, self-criticism and emotion regulation; with self-criticism emerging as the biggest predictor of emotion dysregulation of all explored variables. Although implications for obesity are limited, it is notable that our population demonstrated less obesity than the general public. This is important, as it ascertains that emotion dysregulation, self-criticism, low self-compassion and dark personality traits are not associated with BMI in those of healthy weight.

Integrating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy With Compassion-Focused Therapy for the Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: An Evidence-Based Case Study

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for social anxiety disorder that has been found to elicit significant changes in process-based mechanisms (e.g., emotion regulation strategies), which subsequently lead to reductions in social anxiety and associated functional impairment; however, CBT may be less effective for socially anxious individuals experiencing high self-criticism and low self-compassion. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) has been used to address these tendencies in socially anxious individuals, but research in this area is limited. The present case study examined changes in social anxiety symptoms, self-compassion, emotion regulation strategies, and functional impairment throughout the course of treatment with a young, Chinese American woman using a novel integration of CBT and CFT for social anxiety disorder. The client experienced significant reductions in social anxiety and functional impairment across treatment, which was accompanied by reductions in fear and avoidance ratings for feared social scenarios. Significant mechanistic changes were also observed, including decreases in maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (i.e., suppression, rumination) and increases in self-compassion and adaptive emotion regulation strategies (i.e., expressive engagement, cognitive reappraisal). Findings support the efficacy of integrating compassion-focused strategies with CBT for social anxiety for a young adult with prominent tendencies of self-criticism and low self-compassion.

The longitudinal contribution of prolonged grief to depression and suicide risk in the aftermath of suicide loss: The moderating role of self-criticism

BackgroundSuicide-loss survivors (SLSs)-individuals who lost family member to suicide, have been recognized as at risk for several mental health complications, including depression and suicide. Recent studies have emphasized the contribution of prolonged grief (PG) symptoms and suicide-related shame as facilitators of depression and suicide risk in the aftermath of suicide loss. In this six-year longitudinal design study, we examined self-criticism as a moderator of the link between PG and depression and suicide risk, with suicide-related shame mediating these links. MethodParticipants were 152 SLSs (130 females) aged 18–70 who completed questionnaires assessing prolonged grief, depression, and suicide risk as well as trauma-related shame and self-criticism. ResultsA moderated mediation model shows that high self-criticism intensified the relations between PG and shame and between shame and depression and suicide risk, above and beyond the contribution of the longitudinal PG trajectory. Importantly, the indirect effects of PG on both depression and suicide risk via shame levels were found only among SLSs with high levels of self-criticism. ConclusionThe findings highlight the critical longitudinal role of self-criticism in facilitating depression and suicide risk among SLSs with higher levels of PG. Theoretical implications relating to healing processes and focused clinical recommendations are discussed, including interventions for addressing self-criticism and suicide-related shame in the aftermath of suicide loss.

The Effects of Self-Criticism and Self-Compassion on Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury.

Symptoms of depression increase during adolescence as do nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors (NSSI). The present study aimed to investigate how self-criticism interacted with the effects of stressful life events on depressive symptoms and NSSI and whether self-compassion would buffer these negative effects. A total of 908 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.46, SD = 0.57) completed a cross-sectional survey. The main and interacted effects of stressful life events, self-criticism, self-compassion on depressive symptoms and NSSI were examined respectively. The results showed that self-criticism significantly moderated the relationships between stressful events and depression and NSSI. Self-compassion could buffer the negative impacts of stressful events and self-criticism on NSSI but not on depression. High self-compassion significantly reduced the magnitude of the association between stressful life events and NSSI in adolescents with low self-criticism but not in those with high self-criticism. Self-criticism exacerbated the negative impacts of stressful life events on both depressive symptoms and NSSI, but self-compassion only buffered the impact of stressful life events on NSSI. Interventions designed to reduce NSSI risk of Chinese adolescents may benefit from training them to improve self-compassion abilities and to be less self-critical.

Moral injury, PTSD, and complex PTSD among Israeli health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of self-criticism.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health and social care workers (HSCWs) are facing morally challenging situations and life-threatening decisions. Following exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) that undermine deeply held moral beliefs and expectations, HSCWs might experience moral injury (MI) and other deleterious psychiatric consequences. The present study examined associations between exposure to PMIEs, MI symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), and self-criticism among HSCWs. A sample of 296 Israeli HSCWs responded to online validated self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional designed survey in February and March 2021. Participants' self-reported PTSD (8.9%) and CPTSD (4.8%) rates match the rates of Israel's general population. A moderated-mediation model shows that high self-criticism intensified the relations between exposure to PMIEs and MI symptoms, and between MI symptoms and CPTSD symptoms. Importantly, the indirect effect of exposure to PMIEs on both PTSD and CPTSD symptoms via MI symptoms existed only among those with high levels of self-criticism. The study's findings offer a novel overview of the associations between patterns of exposure to PMIEs, MI, PTSD, and CPTSD. Clinicians treating HSCWs coping with COVID-19-related moral injury should be aware of the importance of high self-criticism in the possible posttraumatic sequelae of exposure to PMIEs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological risk factors for depression in the UK general population: derailment, self-criticism and self-reassurance

ABSTRACT UK depression prevalence is increasing. In this study we appraised the relationships between psychological factors of derailment, self-criticism, self-reassurance and depression, to identify individual differences within the UK general population indicating those at higher risk. Participants completed self-report measures regarding these constructs. Relationships were assessed using correlation and path analyses. Derailment and self-criticism predicted depression positively, whereas self-reassurance predicted depression negatively. Self-criticism mediated derailment’s relation to depression. Self-reassurance moderated derailment’s relation to depression, with low self-reassurance indicating greater depression, though self-reassurance was not found to moderate the effect of derailment-associated self-criticism on depression. In depression treatment therefore derailment should be considered as a target factor to be reduced, since derailment indicates a risk of depression for individuals with high self-criticism or low self-reassurance. .

Feasibility and efficacy of an online compassion-focused imagery intervention for veterinarian self-reassurance, self-criticism and perfectionism.

Veterinarians report high levels of psychological distress and self-criticism. However, there is minimal research investigating psychological interventions for veterinarians.Evidence suggests that compassion-focused therapy is effective at reducing distress in those with high self-criticism. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a 2-week online compassionate imagery intervention for veterinarians. A one-group repeated measures design was used with 128 veterinarians. Participants completed measures of perfectionism, self-criticism, self-reassurance and fears of compassion four times, at 2-week intervals (at baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention and 2-week follow-up). Participants answered written questions about their intervention experience post-intervention. Content analysis of the qualitative data found the intervention to be acceptable and beneficial to participants. Overall, study attrition was 50.8%, which is reasonable for a low-cost intervention. Minimal differences were found between participants who dropped out compared to those who completed the intervention. Perfectionism, work-related rumination and self-criticism were significantly reduced post-intervention, and these effects were maintained at follow-up. Resilience and self-reassurance remained unchanged. Fears of compassion reduced over the baseline period and pre-post intervention, questioning the validity of the measure. Overall, in the context COVID-19, the intervention showed impressive feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. Randomised control trials are recommended as the next step for research to establish the intervention's effectiveness.

Stakeholder views on mindfulness for youth at risk for psychosis.

Interventions incorporating mindfulness for youth identified to be at risk for psychosis show promise for symptom management yet to be addressed by other approaches. Important questions remain as to how to safely and effectively implement these interventions with this cohort. The aim of this research was to collaboratively identify with stakeholders of such interventions, namely youth at risk for psychosis, and practitioners with experience working with youth at risk for psychosis - attitudes towards mindfulness and potential intervention adaptations to ensure the safety, uptake, and effectiveness of mindfulness interventions used with youth at risk for psychosis. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies were adopted. Eight practitioners and six at risk for psychosis individuals were interviewed. Both groups identified significant potential benefits of mindfulness, for stress and relaxation, managing difficult thoughts and emotions, increasing positive emotions, improving functioning, and patient empowerment within treatment participation. Stakeholders identified the helpfulness of including compassion-based practices, emphasizing experiential and concrete material, shorter and guided exercises, the targeting of anxiety and attenuated psychotic symptomology, and making the goals or intent of practice youth relevant. Significant barriers were identified - poor functioning and low motivation, high self-criticism, concurrent medication and substance use, and perceptions of mindfulness that may impact uptake (e.g. it requires relaxation to work). Formulation of and research into comprehensive clinical guidelines will help ensure the safe and effective use of future mindfulness and compassion-based practices with at risk for psychosis individuals.

Does Compassion-Focused Therapy-Based Online Intervention Work for Chinese International Students With High Self-Criticism? A Randomized Controlled Trail

Self-criticism represents a central phenomenon among a variety of psychological distress and has been shown to relate to the motivational systems of competing and social ranking. The purpose of our study was to test the effect of online compassion-focused therapy (CFT)-based intervention (CFI) on Chinese international students in South Korea suffering from high self-criticism and related psychological distress. Thirty-two Chinese international students with a high level of self-criticism were randomized to either a four-session CFI group, a four-session rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)—based online self-help approach group, or a wait-list (WL) control group. The results suggest that the CFI group demonstrated significant improvements in self-criticism, compassion, depression, anxiety, and shame, and these were greater than those in the REBT and WL groups. Our work provides evidence that CFI offers a possible approach for reducing self-criticism and related psychological distress and increasing compassion level for young Chinese populations.

Self-Compassion Moderates the Mediating Effect of Self-Criticism in the Link Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychopathology.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with psychological symptoms (i.e., psychopathology) among clinical and nonclinical samples. The mechanisms underlying this link have been understudied, especially among well-functioning adults. Arguably, exposure to CM may be translated into negative and critical self-appraisals and self-blame, reflected in high self-criticism. CM may also result in difficulty in extending kindness towards oneself, that is, low self-compassion. These characteristics are linked with elevated psychopathology. Nevertheless, no study has yet tested the extent to which self-criticism and self-compassion may serve as independent mechanisms linking CM and psychopathology and whether in this context self-compassion buffers the link between self-criticism and psychopathology. Here, we tested an integrative model in which the relation between CM and psychopathology was mediated by self-compassion and self-criticism, and the path between self-criticism and psychopathology was moderated by self-compassion. A convenience sample of 914 individuals completed online self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that CM was related to psychopathology through the mediation of self-compassion and self-criticism, with a significant interaction between self-criticism and self-compassion. Showing a moderated-mediational effect, the link between self-criticism and psychopathology was weaker under high than under low levels of self-compassion. Our findings highlight the importance of self-compassion, a robust resilience factor related to reduced psychopathology and moderating the link between self-criticism, a potent transdiagnostic risk factor, and psychopathology in the context of CM. These results thus provide empirical evidence for the relevance of compassion and mindfulness in counseling settings, particularly with CM survivors, who are at greater risk for psychopathology.

Assessing self-criticism and self-reassurance: Examining psychometric properties and clinical usefulness of the Short-Form of the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS-SF) in Spanish sample.

The Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) was designed to measure self-criticism (SC) through Inadequate Self (IS) and Hated Self (HS) factors, as well as self-reassurance (RS). However, its long and short forms have yet to be validated in the Spanish Population. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the short form (FSCRS-SF) and its clinical usefulness in a sample of 576 adult individuals, 77 with psychiatric disorders and 499 without. Non-clinical participants were split according to their previous experience with meditation (active meditators, n = 133; non-active meditators, n = 41; and non-meditators, n = 325) and differences between these subgroups were explored. Additionally, a subsample of 20 non-clinical participants took part in a mindfulness- and compassion- based intervention (MCBI) to assess the usefulness of the scale as an outcome measure. Results confirmed the original three-factorial structure, good internal consistency, acceptable test-retest reliability, and a pattern of correlations consistent with previous literature. Regarding differences between groups, the clinical subsample showed significant higher SC and lower RS levels than non-clinical participants and active meditators had significant lower IS and higher RS levels than non-meditators. Participants who participated in the MCBI showed significant RS improvement and a decrease in IS and HS levels. Moreover, a hierarchical multiple regression showed that RS made a significant predictive contribution to distress at three months’ time. In conclusion, results show that the Spanish version of the FSCRS-SF is a reliable and valid measure of SC and RS in non-clinical populations and an adequate instrument to detect changes after MCBIs.

ECOCENTRISM AS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIALLY MATURE PERSONALITY OF FUTURE SOCIONOMIC SPECIALISTS

The article presents the study on future socionomic specialists’ ecocentrism, describes the structure of ecological consciousness and its psychological characteristics. Basing on the analyzed theoretical scientific sources, we have determined that environmental consciousness means a sphere of social and individual consciousness, associated with representations of the nature as a part of the whole existence. According to the obtained data, students with pronounced ecocentric attitudes towards environment are characterized by sociability (high social activity, needs and desires for communications), poise (high tolerance to stress, optimism, high activity, self-confidence), openness (the desire for trustful and open interactions with others, for communications, openness to new experience, high self-criticism), extraversion (sociability, openness, optimism, high activity, friendliness). We have found that the students with pronounced anthropocentric attitudes towards environment are characterized by irritability (unstable emotional states, a tendency to respond emotionally to life situations), reactive aggressiveness (the desire to dominate, impulsivity of behavior), emotional lability (instability of emotional states, imbalance, irritability, insufficient self-control, frequent and abrupt mood swings) and shyness (low stress resistance, insecurity, anxiety). The study results prove that the rank indicators of the examined criteria are different, and this demonstrates differences in psychological characteristics of the respondents with different attitudes towards environment. The differences between the majority of the examined criteria were statistically significant (p≤0.01, p≤0.001), which confirmed possible differentiation of students by of their attitudes to environment. We have proved that expressed different attitudes (ecocentric, apathy or anthropocentric) to environment are not influenced by such psychological characteristics as: orientation in time, neuroticism, spontaneous aggressiveness and depression (p≥0.10). These personal characteristics do not actually influence the formation or transformation of students’ ecological consciousness. Basing on the experimental study, we have determined correlations between the ecocentrism indicators and the characteristics of future socionomic specialists’ social maturity. Namely, the students with pronounced ecocentric attitudes towards environment showed in interpersonal relationships strong authority and the desire for leadership, acute independence and dominance, excessive straightforwardness, accompanied by criticism and distrust, the tendency to cooperate with pronounced altruism and hypersocial attitudes, high stress resistance, optimism, activity, self-confidence.

A Preliminary Investigation on the Effectiveness of Compassionate Mind Training for Students with Major Depressive Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial

High self-criticism and a low self-reassurance and self-compassion have found to play a key role in the development of college students’ depressive symptoms. The current pilot study was conducted in Iran with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-session outpatient compassionate mind training (CMT) on symptoms of depression, anger rumination, self-criticism, self-compassion, and fear of compassion in students diagnosed with major depressive disorder. All participants (30 women, age range: 21–29 years) fulfilled criteria for major depression and were randomly assigned to CMT (n = 15), or a no-treatment control group (n = 15). The treatment group underwent 8 CMT sessions, twice a week. Scores at the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), Fears of Compassion Scale (FOCS), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were used as outcome measures. Assessments were administered pre- and post-intervention. Effectiveness of CMT was supported by significantly lower post-intervention rates of depression (F (1, 28) = 9.02, p = 0.006, η2 = 0.24), thoughts of revenge, self-hate, and fear of compassion for others in those who received CMT as compared to those in the control group. The CMT group showed also significant increases in self-reassurance and the positive parcel of self-compassion (comprised of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness items). Results suggest that even a brief (4-week) compassionate mind training could be implemented as an effective intervention for students with major depressive disorder. Further research including a bigger and gender-balanced sample is warranted.

Moral injury and mental health outcomes among Israeli health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a latent class analysis approach

ABSTRACT Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges to health and social care workers (HSCWs) who face morally challenging and life-threatening decisions. Following exposure to events that transgress moral beliefs and expectations, HSCWs might experience psychological, social, and spiritual problems referred to as Moral Injury (MI). Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine patterns of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) among HSCWs and their associations with MI, mental health outcomes and psychological correlates. Method: A sample of 296 Israeli HSCWs volunteered to complete a cross-sectional electronic survey with validated self-report questionnaires in February and March 2021. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes characterized by unique patterns of exposure to PMIEs. Socio-demographic, work and COVID-related variables were used to predict patterns of exposure to PMIEs, and differences in mental-health outcomes and psychological correlates between classes were assessed. Results: Three subgroups were identified: ‘high exposure’ (19.5%), ‘betrayal-only’ (31.3%), and ‘minimal exposure’ (49.4%). Perceived stress increases the odds for inclusion in the ‘high exposure’ and ‘betrayal-only’ classes. Participants in both the High Exposure class and the betrayal-only classes reported higher levels of depressive, anxiety, posttraumatic and more moral injury symptoms as compared to the ‘minimal exposure’ class. Importantly, both ‘high exposure’ and ‘betrayal-only’ classes reported lower levels of self-compassion and higher levels of self-criticism, relative to those in the ‘minimal exposure’ class. Conclusions: The study’s findings offer an overview of the complex associations between patterns of exposure to PMIEs and associated predictors and outcomes. Clinicians treating HSCWs coping with COVID-19 related stress should be aware of the contribution of exposure to PMIEs to HSCWs’ distress and to the unique constellation of high self-criticism and low self-compassion among HSCWs with exposure to PMIEs.

Contributions of trait, domain, and signature components of self-criticism to stress generation

The personality trait of self-criticism has been linked to many life difficulties, including psychiatric disorders (Blatt, 2004). One process by which self-criticism gives rise to dysphoria is through stress generation; self-critical individuals interpret and act upon their environments in ways that increase their experiences of hassles and stressors (Zuroff et al., 2004). The present article distinguishes three stress generation pathways corresponding to Zuroff et al.'s (2021) proposed decomposition of variance in self-criticism across eight domains of the self into: 1) trait (mean) self-criticism; 2) normative domain-level self-criticism, and 3) the person × domain interaction (self-criticism signature). In two studies, college students reported levels of self-criticism, hassles, negative affect (NA), and positive affect (PA) across eight self-domains. Multilevel structural equation modeling demonstrated significant indirect (mediated) effects of all three components of self-criticism on NA through increased hassles. Generally similar, but weaker, effects were found for increased hassles predicting lower PA. Stress generation is a more complex process than previously realized, arising not only from elevated trait self-criticism, but also from person-specific patterns of elevation and normative differences in domains of high self-criticism. Directions for future research and clinical implications of an expanded view of self-criticism and stress generation are considered.

Differences in Electromyography during Self-Compassionate and Self-Critical Imageries According to the Level of Self-Criticism

The aim of this study was to analyze changes in muscle activity between high and low self-critical participants during the imagery of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism. Muscle activity was measured by the Biopac MP36 while participants were listening to the imagery audio recording. Levels of self-criticism were measured by The Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS; Gilbert et al., 2004). From overall number of 110 participants, 30 participants were selected for further analysis based on their extreme level of self-criticism. The research sample consisted of 15 participants with high level of self-criticism and 15 with low level of self-criticism. The results showed that participants with higher levels of self-criticism had similar levels of muscle activity during the self-critical and self-protective phases of imagery. However, during the last self-compassionate imagery, participants with lower self-criticism returned to the baseline EMG levels, while those with higher self-criticism remained at high EMG levels. The results showed lower muscle activity in low self-critics while imagining inner compassionate part meaning. Therefore, low self-critics are probably better able to calm themselves down compared to high self-critics.