Self-compassion Research Articles

Mindfulness-Based Compassion Training for Health Professionals Providing End-of-Life Care: Impact, Feasibility, and Acceptability.

Background: Health professionals who care for patients and their families at the end of life (EOL) may experience gratitude, and enhanced spirituality and meaning in life, yet they are also at increased risk of psychological distress, compassion fatigue, and occupational burnout given the stressors they encounter in their work. Objectives: This research evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a novel six-week mindfulness-based compassion training intervention, which was tailored to health professionals involved in EOL care ("MBCT4HP"), and explored its impact on levels of psychological distress, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, occupational burnout, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Design: We adopted an observational, repeated measures pilot study. Setting/Subjects: Thirty-one health professionals participated. The intervention comprised six, weekly sessions (totaling seven hours) designed to foster compassion for self and others, including formal and informal compassion and mindfulness practices, daily home practice, and a reflective experiential pedagogy. Measurements: Validated outcome measures for anxiety, depression, and stress; compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue (burnout, secondary traumatic stress); occupational burnout (emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, and depersonalization), self-compassion, and mindfulness were administered at baseline, end of intervention, and eight weeks postintervention. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was assessed using attendance records, home practice logs, and self-report satisfaction items. Descriptive statistics and Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to analyze the data. Results: Participants reported that the sessions were useful, relevant, easy to understand, and that they gave them sufficient knowledge to implement the strategies learned. Levels of anxiety, compassion fatigue (burnout only), and emotional exhaustion decreased over time with some decay in effects at follow up, and levels of compassion satisfaction and self-compassion increased with time. Conclusions: The intervention was feasible and acceptable to health professionals involved in EOL care and had a positive impact on levels of anxiety, compassion fatigue (burnout), emotional exhaustion, compassion satisfaction, and self-compassion.

Abstract P222: Psychological Recovery After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: The Role of Post-Traumatic Growth and Self-Compassion

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH), a subset of haemorrhagic stroke, is a potentially fatal condition with a mortality rate of approximately 50%. Of those that survive, some 60% will experience ongoing disability and impairment. Forty per cent of remaining survivors will experience what is deemed as a good neurological recovery. Despite good recovery, people have been found to experience negative psychosocial outcomes such as high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and reduced levels of overall well-being. As a result, aSAH has been viewed as a traumatic life experience with the potential for ongoing psychological sequelae. More recently the literature has identified that traumatic experiences can also elicit an opportunity for growth. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) states that for some people, the experience of trauma may also result in positive psychological gains. PTG has previously been investigated as an outcome after natural disasters and in a range of medical conditions; however, no studies have investigated PTG after an aSAH. A recent study identified that PTG may play a psychologically buffering role after a diagnosis of breast cancer. It is possible that PTG may also play a protective role in recovery after an aSAH; however, this has not been investigated. This study comprised N = 251 adults who had experienced an aSAH, and were recruited from Australia, U.K., U.S.A., New Zealand, and Canada. This study examined whether people who have survived an aSAH experience PTG; if predictors including self-compassion (SC) and social support (SS) influence the development of PTG after an aSAH; and if PTG moderates the relationship between PTSS, and depression and subjective well-being. Regression analyses were utilised to analyse the data. Results showed that people experience PTG after an aSAH; SC predicted PTG; PTG was not found to moderate the relationship between PTSS and either Depression or SWB domains. Supplementary analyses were conducted with SC not a significant moderator between PTSS and either depression or SWB domains. However, SC was found to mediate the relationship between PTSS and Depression and PTSS and SWB domains.

The Relationships Between Self-compassion, Positive and Negative Affect, and Marital Quality in Infertile Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objectives: Infertility presents extensive psychological effects on infertile couple’s marital life, especially in women during infertility treatment. Studying the essential psychological factors and their correlations on a large scale could rehabilitate the mental health of infertile women and facilitate the stressful process of infertility treatment. This systematic review aimed to study the literature and relationships among self-compassion, positive and negative affect, and marital quality in infertile women. Methods: To examine the considered association, a comprehensive literature search was performed to identify relevant articles in English and Persian published from 2000 to May 2020 and indexed in Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, Jstore, Cochrane Library, Medline, SID, Irandoc, Civilica, and Magiran. The study eligibility criteria included only infertile couples/women who were clinically diagnosed with infertility. The measurement tools used by studies consisted of at least one of the following: Self-Compassion Scale (SCS); Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS); Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), and infertility-related questionnaires. The search strategy of this review was per PICO (Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes) and included the terms Self-Compassion (SC), Positive and Negative Affect (PANA), and Marital Quality (MQ) in infertile women. To identify further eligible studies, the bibliographies of primary articles were manually searched to meet the inclusion criteria. The quality of studies was graded by GRADE from the Cochrane handbook. The studies were investigated concerning design, risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication. Results: SC could play a mediating role in the relationship with PANA, and MQ in infertile women undergoing infertility treatment. Discussion: This systematic review highlighted the importance of addressing psychological characteristics which can affect the biopsychological health of infertile women undergoing infertility treatment.

The relationship between job stress and burnout of correctional workers : focusing on the mediating effect of self-compassion

The relationship between job stress and burnout of correctional workers : focusing on the mediating effect of self-compassion

Fears of compassion magnify the effects of rumination and worry on the relationship between self-criticism and depression

There is a well-established relationship between self-criticism and depression. This cross-sectional study investigated the roles that rumination, worry, and fears of compassion for self and from others play in this relationship. Undergraduate students and community participants (N = 417; 68% female; mean age 21.42 years [SD = 6.45]) completed online self-report questionnaires measuring self-criticism, depression, rumination, worry, and fears of self-compassion and receiving compassion from others. It was hypothesized that self-criticism would predict depression, partially mediated by rumination and worry, and moderated by fears of compassion for self and from others. The indirect effects of self-criticism on depression through rumination and worry were found to be conditional on levels of fears of compassion for self and from others. Fears of compassion for self and from others magnified the impact of self-criticism on rumination and rumination on depression; and fears of compassion from others magnified the impact of self-criticism on worry. These findings suggest that having high fears of compassion for self and from others potentiates the effect of self-criticism and repetitive negative thinking on depression. Fears of compassion from others and for oneself should be assessed and addressed alongside phenomena such as self-criticism and rumination when working with depression.

The Influence of Adult Attachment on Self-compassion of Teachers in Early Childhood Education and Care: Examining the Parallel Dual Mediating Effects of Positive and Negative Affects

The Influence of Adult Attachment on Self-compassion of Teachers in Early Childhood Education and Care: Examining the Parallel Dual Mediating Effects of Positive and Negative Affects

The influence of experiences in close relationships with teachers for young children on their depression: Examining the mediating effect of their self-compassion

The influence of experiences in close relationships with teachers for young children on their depression: Examining the mediating effect of their self-compassion

Compassion-Focused Group Therapy for Treatment-Resistant OCD: Initial Evaluation Using a Multiple Baseline Design.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that can easily become a treatment-resistant condition. Although effective therapies exist, only about half of the patients seem to benefit from them when we consider treatment refusal, dropout rates, and residual symptoms. Thus, providing effective augmentation to standard therapies could improve existing treatments. Group compassion-focused interventions have shown promise for reducing depression, anxiety, and avoidance related to various clinical problems, but this approach has never been evaluated for OCD individuals. However, cultivating compassion for self and others seems crucial for OCD patients, given the accumulating research suggesting that fear of guilt, along with isolation and self-criticism, can strongly contribute to the development and maintenance of OCD. The primary aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability, tolerability, and effectiveness of an 8-week group compassion-focused intervention for reducing OCD symptoms, depression, fear of guilt and self-criticism, and increasing common humanity and compassionate self-reassuring skills in treatment-resistant OCD patients. Using a multiple baseline experimental design, the intervention was evaluated in a sample of OCD patients (N = 8) who had completed at least 6 months of CBT treatment for OCD, but who continued to suffer from significant symptoms. Participants were randomized to different baseline assessment lengths; they then received 8 weekly, 120-min group sessions of compassion-focused therapy for OCD (CFT-OCD), and then were tested again at post-treatment and at 1 month follow up. Despite the adverse external circumstances (post-treatment and follow-up data collection were carried out, respectively, at the beginning and in the middle of the Italian lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic), by the end of treatment, all participants demonstrated reliable decreases in OCD symptoms, and these improvements were maintained at 4-week follow-up for seven of eight participants. The intervention was also associated with improvements in fear of guilt, self-criticism, and self-reassurance, but less consistent improvements in depression and common humanity. Participants reported high levels of acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention. Results suggest that the intervention may be beneficial as either a stand-alone treatment or as an augmentation to other treatments.

The Effect of Stress, Negative Affect, and Self-Compassion on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

The Effect of Stress, Negative Affect, and Self-Compassion on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

Self-compassion training within a workplace physical activity program: A pilot study.

Desire2Move (D2M) is an 8-week team-based, workplace program that incorporates competition and self-monitoring to encourage physical activity (PA). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-compassion (SC) intervention within the existing workplace PA program. University employees (n = 20) were assigned to a SC treatment group or an attention control group. Participants logged their PA minutes using MapMyRun. Treatment group. participants received a 7-week, SC podcast intervention. Participants self-reported PA, SC, and demographic information at pre- and post-intervention. Separate ANOVAs were used to determine group differences. There was not a statistically significant group x time interaction for SC, F(1, 18) = 0.02, p = 0.90, or main effects for time, F(1, 18) = 0.28, p = 0.61, or group, F(1, 18) = 1.70, p = 0.21, g = -0.42 [95%CI = -3.13, 2.29]. There were not significant differences between groups for total PA minutes during D2M, F(1, 18) = 2.15, p = 0.16, g = -0.63 [-1.53,0.27]. Overall, participants engaged in more than the recommended levels of PA each week. This pilot study provided feedback and guidance for future online SC training within a workplace PA intervention.

A Systematic Review of Self-Compassion in Chronic Pain: From Correlation to Efficacy.

Chronic pain (CP) is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Compassion-related interventions are proving to be advantageous in CP, and self-compassion (SC) is hypothesized to be related with pain regulation physiological processes, as well as with psychological benefits in CP. We aimed to review scientific literature on: 1) Compassion-based psychological interventions and their changes in pain outcomes; and 2) associations between SC and pain-related outcomes. We performed a systematic research in four electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library from inception until April 2020. In Question 1, we included studies involving adult patients with CP who participated in compassion-based psychological interventions. In Question 2, we included studies that examined the associations between SC and pain outcomes in adults with CP. We identified 16 studies. For Question 1, we included seven studies focused on different compassion-based interventions that assessed at least one pain outcome, in a total of 253 participants with CP associated with multiple conditions. For Question 2, we included nine studies, in a total of 1,430 participants, with eight different pain outcomes: Intensity, acceptance, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, disability, distress, pain related coping and anxiety. Considering the high heterogeneity between studies and the poor-quality assessment, we could not draw definitive conclusions on the efficacy of compassion-based interventions nor on the association between SC and pain outcomes. Studies are further discussed in detail. This review can be a starting point for large-scale and high-quality trials in this area as it provides an organized overview of the current literature on this topic.

Can athletes be tough yet compassionate to themselves? Practical implications for NCAA mental health best practice no. 4.

Recent tragic events and data from official NCAA reports suggest student-athletes' well-being is compromised by symptoms of mental health (MH) disorders. Self-compassion (SC) and mental toughness (MT) are two psychological constructs that have been shown effective against stressors associated with sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate SC, MT, and MH in a NCAA environment for the first time and provide practical suggestions for MH best practice No.4. In total, 542 student-athletes participated across Divisions (Mage = 19.84, SD = 1.7). Data were collected through Mental Toughness Index, Self-Compassion Scale, and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. MT, SC (including mindfulness), and MH were positively correlated. Males scored higher than females on all three scales. No differences were found between divisions. SC partially mediated the MT-MH relationship, but moderation was not significant. Working towards NCAA MH best practice should include training athletes in both MT and SC skills (via mindfulness).

The moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between the use of visual media and internalizing pathological symptoms in adolescent

Background and Aim:In the face of mistakes and individual shortcomings, self-compassion defines a positive and loving attitude of a person towards her or himself. As a consequence of this compassionate mindset, it is believed that people with high self-compassion experience better control over pathological internalization. The aim of this study was to in vestigate the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between the use of visual media and internalization of pathological symptoms in adolescents in the academic year 2019-2020. Method: This study, using Cross sectional and correlational research design. The statistical population of this study included all high school students in Shiraz, Iran, who were randomly selected as a cluster of 300 students from areas one and two of education. To measure the studied variables، the questionnaire of self-compassion and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) were used. To analyze the data and hypotheses، review and compare the factors measured in students، from Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression where used at a significant level P-value = 0.05. Rresults: Demographic data analysis showed 162 (49.40 percent) of the students in the study group were female and (48.46 percent) male. The results showed that the variables of self-compassion and body image concern play a moderating role in the relationship between the use of visual media and internalization of pathological symptoms (β=0.296). Conclusion: Self-compassion and body image concern play a significant moderating role in the relationship between the use of visual media and the internalization of pathological symptoms.

Self‐compassion for youth in small city centres: A school‐based pilot project

AbstractThe purpose of this pilot study was to explore the benefits of a self‐compassion intervention that was delivered in school to grade nine youth during their transition to high school in a small city centre in Ontario, Canada. All participants were assigned female at birth. Self‐compassion (SC) was identified as an important intervention for this population based on a community‐based participatory research (CBPR) process that included youth living with mental health challenges, mental health practitioners, gatekeepers and academics. The CBPR process helped with problem identification and the modification of a self‐compassion intervention for use in school for youth. The modified SC programme was delivered in two physical education classes, using a 2 × 2 crossover design (i.e. intervention or school as usual). Self‐report measures focused on increasing mental health (e.g. well‐being, values, self‐compassion) and decreasing mental illness (e.g. depression, anxiety) were collected at baseline and pre–post intervention. Data analysed via ANCOVAs and non‐parametric tests indicate no statistically significant results. At baseline, most students had relatively average scores for mental health and mental illness; therefore, floor and ceiling effects may have impacted measurable change. In this relatively healthy group, the benefits of the SC programme may be the capacity to continue to accept and support oneself in facing challenges, as is the overall goal of self‐compassion. Future research may focus on using self‐compassion interventions with youth in clinical settings or a longitudinal analysis with a comparison group.

Impact of Covert Narcissism on Depression: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Internalized Shame and Self-Compassion

Impact of Covert Narcissism on Depression: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Internalized Shame and Self-Compassion

The Role of Self-compassion, Concern for Others, and Basic Psychological Needs in the Reduction of Caregiving Burnout.

ObjectivesCompassion is the beneficial response of an individual to the sufferings and difficulties of others. Self-compassion refers to feelings of concern an individual feel towards oneself. Both may serve as potential buffers in a hospital setting where caregivers attending to patients in critical condition experience emotional distress, which may lead to burnout. However, the unique contribution of compassion, both to self and others, to the decrease of burnout is unclear.MethodsIn the present study, we recruited 109 professional caregivers working in a hospital’s intensive care and rehabilitative units. We explored a theoretically driven mediation model in which the relationship between compassion for self and others and burnout is mediated by different basic psychological needs, detailed in the self-determination theory.ResultsResults indicated that self-compassion and concern for others were associated with reduced levels of burnout. Each of these buffers against burnout was mediated by a unique psychological need, thereby supporting a three-layered model of (a) compassion and self-compassion, (b) basic psychological needs, and (c) burnout.ConclusionsOur study highlights compassion and self-compassion as potential resilience factors against the challenge of burnout in healthcare. It points to promising avenues for preemptive clinical interventions.

Promotion of professional quality of life through reducing fears of compassion and compassion fatigue: Application of the Compassionate Mind Model to Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (Health Visiting) training.

To identify whether a Compassionate Mind Model-based curriculum reduces students' perceived fears of compassion and improves their professional well-being. Enabling compassion is mandatory within nurse education but evidencing it is challenging. Research suggests that application of the Compassionate Mind Model might reduce students' fears of compassion and also decrease compassion fatigue. This study reports outcomes of a post-registration curriculum based on that model for training Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (Health Visiting). A quantitative, prospective evaluation of a 12-month training course for Health Visiting students. Reporting was guided by the STROBE checklist for observational studies. Fears of compassion scales were applied at course start (time 1), mid-point (time 2; +6months) and end (time 3; +12months) to evaluate fears of compassion of 26 post-registration student Health Visitors (81% of course cohort) who provided data at all three points. The Professional Quality of Life tool was administered simultaneously to evaluate compassion satisfaction and burnout/secondary traumatic stress (compassion fatigue). Between time 1 and time 3, mean fears of compassion scores decreased by 16.6-48.5% (repeated measures analysis of variance); mid-point scores were intermediary. At time 3, compassion satisfaction had increased slightly (+4.1%), negatively correlated with fears of compassion for self (r=-0.602; p=.001; n=26) and fears of receiving compassion from others (r=-0.568; p=.002; n=26). Burnout score decreased by 18.7%, correlated positively with fear of compassion for self (r=0.493; p=.011; n=26) and fear of receiving compassion from others (r=0.615; p=.001; n=26). Secondary traumatic stress score decreased by 16.5% but was not correlated with any fear of compassion. Findings suggest that application of the Compassionate Mind Model might reduce practitioners' fears of compassion linked to a decrease in risk of compassion fatigue. The Compassionate Mind Model could provide an effective vehicle to promote compassion and nurse well-being.

A well-being champion and the role of self-reflective practice for ICU nurses during COVID-19 and beyond.

A well-being champion and the role of self-reflective practice for ICU nurses during COVID-19 and beyond.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Self-Compassion: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

According to the mental health service recommendations from WHO, self-care is the basis for tackling psychological concerns. Although self-esteem has been a symbolic self-driven psychological factor that could generate significant positive well-being and associated with physical activity (PA), self-esteem’s negative effects have been criticized by the advocation of self-compassion (SC). Therefore, with both PA and SC have been found to be effective in achieving positive psychological health, they are expected to show a relationship to cope with people’s mental health problems. To fully study the relationship, a concrete systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to review the relationship between PA and SC. The meta-analysis outcome was obtained by the pooled correlation coefficient using the random effects model, and meta-regression with mixed-effect models were used to determine the moderate effects. A total of 25 studies, with n = 5622 samples, were included. Ten studies examined the association between PA and SC; five studies examined the association between PA regulation and SC; and six RCT studies and four single group repeated measure studies examined the effect of PA on SC. The random effects model demonstrated a significant effect size on the overall relationship between PA and SC (r = 0.26), with significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis showed the significant effect sizes on four types of relationship, with r = 0.19, r = 0.273 and r = 0.34, r = 0.273, respectively. All potential sources of heterogeneity, including age, gender, study design and risk of bias, showed no moderating effect on the relationship. The relationship between PA and SC was significant while investigating the effect of non-mind-and-body interventions and constructing a mechanism of PA and SC can be done as future implications.

Being My Own Companion in Times of Social Isolation - A 14-Day Mobile Self-Compassion Intervention Improves Stress Levels and Eating Behavior.

The worldwide spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the resulting lockdown has affected the whole world and the maintenance of healthy eating behavior might be an additional challenge. Self-compassion (SC) interventions emphasize not only treating oneself in a caring way regarding personal weaknesses, e.g., diet lapses, but also the recognition of shared human suffering. Thus, self-compassion might be particularly valuable during the current worldwide crisis due to COVID-19. In this study, N = 65 participants that wanted to lose weight or develop a healthier eating behavior were randomized to either a 14-day self-compassion intervention arm or a waitlist control arm. The intervention consisted of daily journaling exercises and meditations via smartphone with a focus on improving eating behavior. Before and after the intervention phase, questionnaires on self-compassion, eating, dieting, health behavior, stress, and emotion regulation were completed and body weight was determined. Participants in the treatment arm (n = 28) showed an increase in self-compassion, a decrease in perceived stress, eating in response to feeling anxious, and, on trend level, body mass index (BMI). Changes in self-compassion fully mediated changes in stress. No such effects were found in the waitlist control group (n = 29). Thus, self-compassion might help to maintain well-being and healthy eating habits in times of increased stress and isolation. Future studies should replicate these findings outside of the COVID-19 crisis and test the effect of self-compassion in samples with eating disorders or weight problems.