State Self-compassion Research Articles

Self-compassion improves barrier self-efficacy and subsequently physical activity: A test of longitudinal mediation using a representative sample of the United Kingdom.

Self-compassion, which directs the awareness of suffering, sympathetic concerns and caring motives towards oneself, is an important psychological quality and resource for health and well-being. In the context of physical activity, self-compassion can help individuals overcome obstacles, recuperate from a setback or a lapse and engage in regular physical activity. The present research was the first to examine the longitudinal effects of self-compassion on physical activity and the mediation role of barrier self-efficacy of such effects. We recruited a national representative sample of 654 UK adults and followed them over three timepoints across 9 months. At each time point, participants completed an online survey assessing levels of state self-compassion, barrier self-efficacy and physical activity behaviours. We examined the longitudinal effects of self-compassion on physical activity and the mediation role of barrier self-efficacy. Baseline state self-compassion consistently correlated with physical activity levels at Times 2 and 3. Barrier self-efficacy at Time 2 mediated the longitudinal effect of baseline state self-compassion on Time 3 physical activity, after controlling for within- (e.g., Time 1 on Time 2 self-compassion) and between-person variations (e.g., covariance of self-compassion and physical activity within a timepoint). Adopting a self-compassionate mind facilitates engagement and maintenance of physical activity. Future studies could consider accelerometer-based physical activity measures and develop and validate a more context-specific state self-compassion measure tailored for physical activity contexts. Researchers and practitioners should consider incorporating self-compassion to future interventions and education programmes for promoting physical activity.

Disentangling the relationship between state self-compassion and state coping self-efficacy using dynamic structural equation modeling.

The cross-sectional association between self-compassion and coping self-efficacy has been well documented, but little is known about the extent to which self-compassion or coping self-efficacy persists in daily life. This study used dynamic structural equation modeling to explore the temporal relationship between self-compassion and coping self-efficacy through a daily diary study. Participants (N = 240, Mage = 18.98 ± 0.99 years, 44.8% female) completed 14 consecutive daily diaries on self-compassion and coping self-efficacy (for a total of 3219 observations). We found that self-compassion and coping self-efficacy demonstrated stability through autocorrelations. Self-compassion was a significant predictor of subsequent coping self-efficacy, and coping self-efficacy was a significant predictor of subsequent self-compassion. These findings suggest that there has been a virtuous cycle between state coping self-efficacy and state self-compassion.

Can sensory and semantic priming enhance the effects of guided self-compassion meditation? A proof-of-concept study.

Self-compassion is a fundamental aspect of psychological health and well-being that can be cultivated through self-compassion meditations, but it remains unclear how to facilitate this most effectively. This study is the first to explore whether sensory and semantic priming introduced prior to a guided self-compassion meditation could enhance the effects of meditation in comparison with a control condition. The study was conducted with 3 × 3 repeated measures between-group design, including three groups (sensory priming, semantic priming and control group), and three assessment time points of state self-compassion, self-criticism, and positive and negative affect (at baseline, after priming, and after guided meditation). Additionally, a meditation appeal questionnaire was used. The total sample size included 71 students who underwent a 3-min priming intervention followed by a 15-min self-compassion guided meditation session. First, prior to guided meditation, sensory priming significantly decreased state self-criticism more than the control condition or semantic priming, although some reliability issues of the applied self-criticism scale must be taken into consideration. Second, neither sensory nor semantic priming changed state self-compassion, positive affect or negative affect. Third, neither semantic nor sensory priming significantly enhanced the effects of guided self-compassion meditation either in positive and negative affect, self-compassion states, self-criticism states, or in the appeal of the meditation experience. Although this study is underpowered (estimated post hoc power ranges from 0.20 to 0.42), the findings provide preliminary insights into the potential priming has as a tool to enhance meditation effects and provide guidelines for future studies.

Self-Compassion, Stressor Exposure, and Negative Affect: A Daily Diary Study of Older Adults.

Self-compassion has been identified as a psychological resource for aging well. To date, self-compassion among older adults has typically been conceptualized as a trait variable. This study examined whether day-to-day (state) variability in self-compassion was associated with negative affective reactivity to daily stressors. Daily diary assessment methods were used to examine the potential moderating role of between- and within-person self-compassion on the relationship between daily stressors and negative affect. A community-based sample of 107 older adults aged 65+ completed questionnaires once daily over 14 days. Multilevel modeling revealed that 37% of the variance in self-compassion occurred within persons. Daily self-compassion moderated the relationship between daily stressor exposure and daily negative affect. On days with greater stressor exposure than usual, older adults showed less negative affective reactivity on days when self-compassion was higher, compared with days when self-compassion was lower. No moderating effects were observed for between-person (trait) self-compassion. These findings suggest that self-compassion in older adults should be conceptualized as both state and trait variables and that state self-compassion may be protective in the stress-reactivity pathway. Future research should investigate whether brief self-compassion interventions might help older adults to avoid or downregulate negative emotions in response to stressors.

The Impact of Compassion Writing Interventions on Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Compassion, and Fat Phobia

ObjectivesBody dissatisfaction is a prevalent concern among women in the United States. Self-compassion writing interventions have been found to reduce body dissatisfaction. However, limited research has examined how writing interventions on compassion for one’s body compares to writing interventions on compassion for others’ bodies, and no previous studies examined the effects of those interventions on fat phobia. This study’s main aim was to examine the impact of compassion writing interventions on body dissatisfaction, self-compassion, and fat phobia in women.MethodsParticipants included 198 women (age M = 38.97, SD = 11.72; range 18–65) from the general U.S. population who were randomized to one of three groups: self-compassion (wrote about being compassionate toward one’s body concerns), other-compassion (wrote about being compassionate toward another woman’s body concerns), and control (wrote about their tasks/activities in the previous two days). Participants completed questionnaires on their state body dissatisfaction, state self-compassion, and fat phobia pre- and post-intervention.ResultsState body dissatisfaction significantly decreased, and state self-compassion significantly increased in the self-compassion group. State self-compassion significantly increased in the other-compassion group. Although we found a significant time effect across groups for fat phobia, fat phobia scores only decreased in the self-compassion and other-compassion groups.ConclusionsThe self-compassion writing intervention had the most impact on body-related variables and may be valuable for women between 18 and 65 years old.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

Two sides of the self-love coin: Self-compassion text-only posts and body positive photo-based content both positively affect body image

Although body-positive content is associated with increased positive body image, concerns regarding the continued focus on appearance have emerged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether self-compassion text-only content provided benefits beyond traditional photo-based body positivity content. Undergraduates (n = 283; 179 women, 104 men) were randomly assigned to view body positive photos, self-compassion text-only content, or architectural images (control condition). Participants assigned to both experimental conditions demonstrated a significant increase in measures of state body appreciation, state body satisfaction, and state self-compassion, however they did not differ significantly from each other. The self-compassion condition also differed significantly from the control condition. Trait appearance comparisons moderated the relationship between experimental condition and state body appreciation and state body satisfaction, and gender did not affect the relationship between condition and the outcome measures. Results of this study support the inclusion of body-positivity images and self-compassion text-only content in social media interventions for improving body image for men and women.

A pre-post evaluation of the impact of the Embrace Kids film on children's and adults' body image and self-compassion

Given the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among young people, which tends to persist into adulthood, a need exists for large-scale interventions that address this problem. Film has been identified as a resource that is well-suited to large-scale dissemination, which can achieve broad impact and reach. Embrace Kids, a film aimed at improving young people’s body image, is one such resource. To evaluate the film’s impact on body image, 55 children (M = 10.59, SD = 1.49) and 47 adults (M = 43.75, SD = 8.54) were recruited from the Australian general public to complete a brief survey before and after viewing the film. After viewing the film, significant increases in state body appreciation, state functionality appreciation and state self-compassion were reported for children (d = 0.46 – 0.61) and adults (d = 0.88 – 1.08). They supported the safety of the film by indicating that it did not make them more concerned about their appearance. Findings provide initial support for the film as a scalable intervention that can be safely task-shifted to non-professional audiences. Future research directions include comparing the effect of Embrace Kids against a control film, and testing the longitudinal impact of the film on trait body image.

To avoid or not to avoid: impact of self-compassion on safety behaviors in social situations

ABSTRACT Background/Objectives: Safety behaviors are commonly used to decrease anxiety in social settings but maintain anxiety. Self-compassion has been shown to reduce anxiety and rumination, but the impact on safety behaviors has not been examined. For the present studies, it was hypothesized that inducing self-compassion would lead to lower safety behaviors compared to controls. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 390), participants with elevated social anxiety recalled a distressing social situation, were randomly assigned to a self-compassionate (n = 186) or control (n = 204) writing exercise, and then reported predicted self-compassion and safety behaviors for a future situation. In Study 2 (N = 114), the impact of self-compassionate (n = 56) or control writing (n = 58) on safety behaviors was investigated during a Zoom interaction. Results/Conclusions: In Study 1, as hypothesized, the self-compassion condition reported fewer expected avoidance behaviors compared to controls. In Study 2, state self-compassion and safety behaviors did not differ between conditions. In both studies, distress significantly mediated the relationship between condition and safety behaviors, such that the self-compassion condition reported significantly lower distress, which was associated with lower safety behaviors. Future research can examine whether reduced distress and safety behaviors allow for greater social connection.

Self-compassionate reflective writing for affect regulation in Australian perinatal women.

The current study investigated the effect of a brief online self-compassionate reflective writing task on affect regulation in a sample of Australian perinatal women. Participants were 55 women (Mage = 35.47, SD = 3.79) who were pregnant (16.4%) and/or had an infant <24 months old (76.4%). State self-compassion, positive and negative affect, and future help-seeking behavior intentions were compared at pre- and post-intervention while controlling for trait self-compassion. Inductive thematic analysis was used to extract themes regarding why participants deemed the intervention helpful or unhelpful. As hypothesized, global state self-compassion and intention to engage in self-care behavior were higher, and negative affect was lower, immediately post-intervention relative to pre-intervention scores. Follow-up subscale analyses revealed that the mechanisms of the shift in state self-compassion scores were via reduced self-judgment and overidentification and increased common humanity. There was no significant change in positive affect or intention to engage in help-seeking behavior. Most participants (75%) indicated that the task was helpful with themes identified as written format, changed perspective, dedicating time to reflect, improved mood, and practicing self-kindness. Self-compassionate reflective writing may be a brief and accessible psychosocial approach with the potential to foster healthy emotion regulation and coping among perinatal women.

Clinical and Psychosocial Predictors of Post-Event Processing in Adults Who Stutter.

Post-event processing, defined by self-critical rumination following a stressful communication event, is significantly associated with reduced quality of life. However, despite its relevance to the stuttering experience, to date, only a few studies have investigated post-event processing among adults who stutter, and no study has identified clinical and psychosocial predictors of post-event processing. The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of clinical markers of stuttering and psychosocial variables to post-event processing. Adults who stutter (N = 96) participated in two virtual sessions. After completing the Trier Social Stress Test, a standardized social stress task in Session 1, participants completed measures of post-event processing, clinical markers of stuttering (i.e., the experience of stuttering, self- and observer-rated stuttering severity), and psychosocial characteristics (i.e., self-perceived performance, self-esteem, social anxiety, trait, and state self-compassion) in Session 2. Hierarchical linear regression models indicated that a more negative experience of stuttering, higher self-rated stuttering severity, and greater social anxiety predicted more post-event processing. Greater self-perceived performance and state self-compassion predicted less rumination. Observer-rated severity, self-esteem, and trait self-compassion were not significantly associated with post-event processing behavior. Findings reveal clinical and psychosocial variables to consider in the assessment and mitigation of post-event processing behavior in adults who stutter, and to bolster resiliency to social stress. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24223213.

The Adaptation of the State Self-Compassion Scale Long and Short Form to Turkish Culture: Validity and Reliability Study

Study 1. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the State Self-Compassion Scale-Long Form (SSCS-L). The research was conducted on 536 individuals. As a result of the linguistic equivalence study, a positive significant correlation ranging from r=.384 to .909 was found between the original and Turkish items of the study. As a result of CFA, fit index values were found as (χ2/sd= 386.886/120=3.224, p=.00), RMSEA=.064, NFI=.915, CFI=.939, IFI=.940, RFI=.892, GFI=.923 and SRMR=.046. The Self-Compassion Scale was used to test the criterion-related validity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was found to be .841. The internal consistency coefficient of the factors of the scale was calculated between .742 and .923. The item-total correlations ranged from .39 to .80, while the item discrimination index values of the upper-lower group ranged between 8.22 and 22.3. The research findings demonstrated that the State Self-Compassion Scale-Long Form is a valid and reliable instrument in Turkish culture.Study 2. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the State Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SSCS-S). The research was conducted on 536 individuals. As a result of the linguistic equivalence study, a positive significant correlation ranging from r=.505 to .797 was found between the original and Turkish items of the study. As a result of CFA, fit index values were found as (χ2/sd= 31.660 /9=3.518, p=.00), RMSEA=.075, NFI=.954, CFI=.967, IFI=.967, RFI=.924, GFI=.979 and SRMR=.033. The Self-Compassion Scale was used to test the criterion-related validity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was found to be .873. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated .782 for the scale. The item-total correlations ranged from .36 to .64, while the item discrimination index values (t) of the upper-lower group ranged between 12.69 and 21.65. The research findings demonstrated the State Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form is a valid and reliable instrument in Turkish culture.

Self-Compassion and Grit in the Context of Social Judgment

Self-compassion and grit are each positively associated with adaptive characteristics, and negatively associated with psychological distress. Limited research exists on the relationship between grit and self-compassion, and there is a paucity of research on the impact of grit on social anxiety. Undergraduate participants ( N = 184) completed online measures of grit, self-compassion, well-being, and psychological distress. They also recalled a recent social situation in which they felt judged and reported state levels of self-compassion. As hypothesized, grit (specifically the perseverance subscale) was related to greater state self-compassion regarding the social judgment situation participants recalled. Further, there was support for self-compassion as a mediator of the relationship between grit and state anxiety. However, how self-compassionate participants reported being in their social stressor was best predicted by trait self-compassion and state anxiety. Finally, the type of social judgment situation mattered: participants were less self-compassionate when they recalled performance situations compared to social interaction situations. Findings suggest continued research on how grit and self-compassion may influence one another over time in the context of social judgment.

자기자비 글쓰기가 여자 대학(원)생의 신체 수용과 신체 수치심에 미치는 영향

Objectives The present study examined the effects of self-compassion writing treatment on body shame and body appreciation in comparison with distraction writing treatment for women (under) graduate students.&#x0D; Methods Among 517 undergraduate and graduate students completing BES(Body image Esteem Scale) prior to the experiment, participants with high level of body dissatisfaction were selected. They were randomly assigned to the self-compassion writing group and the distraction writing group. After they recalled and wrote about personally negative body experiences, then they wrote self-compassionately or objectively describing the facts about their experiences. Participants were asked to complete the self-report scales of state self-compassion, body shame, and body appreciation before and after recall, and after writing.&#x0D; Results The results showed that participants in the self-compassion writing condition reported more improvement in state self-compassion, body shame and body appreciation in comparison with participants in the distraction writing condition. There were statistically significant differences between groups.&#x0D; Conclusions These results suggest that self-compassion writing treatment can be a useful intervention to improve body appreciation and to reduce body shame.

How Self-Compassion Operates within Individuals: An Examination of Latent Profiles of State Self-Compassion in the U.S. and Japan

How Self-Compassion Operates within Individuals: An Examination of Latent Profiles of State Self-Compassion in the U.S. and Japan

A pilot randomized trial of self-compassion writing for young adult women engaged in emotional eating in the context of appearance-related cyberbullying.

To investigate the effectiveness of a 10-min self-compassion writing in alleviating body dissatisfaction, self-objectification, and emotional eating in young adult women engaged in emotional eating in the context of appearance-related cyberbullying. A total of 175 Chinese young adult women (Mage = 20.90, SD = 1.65) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: self-compassion, distraction, or control group. At baseline, participants completed assessments of trait and state body dissatisfaction, trait self-objectification, trait self-compassion, emotional eating, and positive and negative affect. Then they needed to recall an appearance-related cyberbullying victimization experience, after which state body dissatisfaction, state self-objectification, and positive and negative affect were measured. After the intervention, participants completed measures of state body dissatisfaction, state self-objectification, positive and negative affect, state self-compassion, and a food-choosing task. At 1-month follow-up, participants completed measures of trait body dissatisfaction, trait self-objectification, trait self-compassion, and emotional eating. At post-intervention, state body dissatisfaction and negative affect were significantly lower, and positive affect was significantly higher in both the self-compassion and distraction groups compared to control. State self-objectification was significantly lower in the self-compassion group than in the other two groups. At 1-month follow-up, the self-compassion group showed significantly lower levels of body dissatisfaction than the control group. The findings provide initial evidence for the potential of self-compassion writing in reducing state self-objectification and state body dissatisfaction in the context of appearance-related cyberbullying. Appearance-related cyberbullying, a common phenomenon in social networking sites, has been documented to associate with appearance-related concerns and disordered eating in young adult women. However, effective interventions that can reduce these negative associations are scarce. This study preliminarily found that a brief self-compassion writing could be a potential intervention for reducing state self-objectification and state body dissatisfaction in young adult women who had suffered appearance-related cyberbullying.

A brief self-compassionate reflective writing task can manage negative reactions following an eating transgression

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigated the efficacy of brief 3-minute reflective writing tasks to manage reactions following an upsetting self-perceived eating transgression. Methods Participants (N = 270) identified their own recent upsetting eating scenario and were randomised to complete a writing task encouraging either self-reflective re-construal or self-compassion. All state outcomes were measured immediately pre- and post-intervention, except for state self-compassion which was measured at post-intervention only. Eating regulation and healthy eating behaviours were reported by participants who completed the follow-up (N = 187, 69.3% of the original sample) two weeks after the intervention. Results Both writing tasks resulted in reduced anxiety, and increased confidence and self-esteem, at post-intervention. The self-compassion writing task led to higher state self-compassion, and lower general negative affect and depression, than the self-reflective re-construal writing task. Moreover, participants in the self-compassion group reported eating a healthier and more balanced diet during the follow-up period than participants in the self-reflection group. Conclusions The current study has provided further evidence for the efficacy of brief self-compassionate reflective writing to regulate negative affectivity and promote healthy eating behaviours in a non-clinical sample, thus revealing important potential application for this approach in the context of eating pathology and lifestyle-related chronic disease.

Self-compassion manipulation regulates affect and aggressive inclinations in the context of social rejection

Three studies (combined N = 1035) tested whether inducing a self-compassionate state of mind would help people regulate affect and aggressive inclinations toward rejecters. State self-compassion, negative affect, and pin counts in the voodoo doll task were assessed across all the studies, positive affect was assessed in Studies 2 and 3, and calm affect and revenge intention were assessed in Study 3. Compared with those in the control condition, participants in the self-compassion condition reported higher levels of state self-compassion (Studies 1 to 3), positive affect (Studies 2 and 3), and calm affect (Study 3), and lower levels of negative affect (Studies 1 to 3) and revenge intention (Study 3). A mini meta-analysis showed that participants in the self-compassion condition selected fewer pins to stab into a voodoo doll. Mediation analyses further suggested that negative affect and calm affect played mediator roles in the association between self-compassion manipulation and aggressive inclinations.

Supportive evidence for the State Self-Compassion Scale using Japanese samples.

Self-compassion (SC) is a trait of having a compassionate attitude toward oneself when experiencing a difficult situation. Recent studies focused on its temporal fluctuation; moreover, Neff et al. (2021) developed a scale to assess the state level of SC. Although its psychometric reliability and validity were confirmed, it was unclear whether it could be adopted in diverse samples. Therefore, we aimed to provide additional evidence using Japanese samples that are recognized as having a high propensity for self-criticism. Study 1 (preregistered) and Study 2 compared several factor models of the scale and demonstrated that the bifactor model using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was the best solution. Moreover, the state scale performed better in predicting affect than the trait SC, supporting the incremental validity. Most of the correlations with the trait SC and the positive/negative affect were nearly as expected. In Study 3, an experimental induction of SC indicated that those in the SC condition experienced an improved state SC after the writing tasks, whereas those in the control condition did not. Study 4 replicated these results and revealed that state SC was more easily improved by the writing manipulation than trait SC. Most of the previous research's results were replicated; furthermore, additional supportive evidence was established across the four studies. We suggest the utility of the State Self-Compassion Scale and discuss some different findings obtained from the Western samples from a cultural perspective. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The Spanish Version of the State Self-Compassion Scale-Long Form (SSCS-L): A Study of Its Validity and Reliability in a Sample of Nursing Students.

Background: In nurses, self-compassion mitigates the effects of stress, burnout and compassion fatigue, and enhances empathy, compassion and well-being and quality of life. The Self-Compassion Scale is the most-used instrument. The aim of this study is to validate the Spanish version of the new developed State Self-Compassion Scale–Long (SSCS–L). Methods: Students of the first year of the Nursing Degree were surveyed online. Together with the SSCS–L, their levels of positive and negative affect was reported. Analyses included descriptive statistics, competitive confirmatory factor analysis, evidence on criterion-related validity and estimates of reliability. Results: The best fitting model for the SSCS–L was the one hypothesizing six-correlated factors of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgement, isolation, and over-identification. Positive relations between the positive dimensions of self-compassion and positive affect were found, whereas there were negative relations between the positive poles of self-compassion and negative affect. Estimates of reliability were adequate, except for the dimension of over-identification. Conclusions: Self-compassion has become a key competency for nurses. The SSCS–L is an appropriate tool to allow an adequate assessment of self-compassion in experimental contexts.

Trait and state self-compassion interactively predict cortisol recovery following an acute stressor in healthy males

This study examined the effect of self-compassion induction on cortisol stress recovery following an acute stressor. A total of 67 male university students completed the Maastricht Acute Stress Test and were then randomized to either a self-compassion (a guided self-compassion writing task) or control condition (a writing task just to review the stress test), followed by a 50-minute resting period. Subjective stress and cortisol levels were assessed at − 15, − 10, 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min relative to the stress offset. Heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were monitored throughout the study. Multilevel modeling indicated that self-compassion induction had no significant effect on cortisol recovery. An exploratory analysis examining the moderating effect of trait self-compassion indicated that the effect of self-compassion induction was prominent when trait self-compassion was low but not when it was high. These findings suggest that self-compassion induction may help recovery from stressful experiences, particularly for those who are less self-compassionate.