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Zhu D, Lyu K. Anti-stigmatizing: a collaborative autoethnography on recovery from depression. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1360967. [PMID: 38690206 PMCID: PMC11059567 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1360967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite extensive research on clinical treatments for depression, there remains a significant gap in understanding of the lived experiences and recovery journeys of those with depression. This study sought to explore the recovery process through an "anti-stigmatizing" lens, emphasizing the cultural-psychological mechanisms at play and the importance of personal narratives in shaping the recovery trajectory. Methods Using a collaborative autoethnographic approach, this report focuses on the first author's journey of depression recovery. This research methodology allows for an in-depth exploration of subjective experiences, with a specific emphasis on the interaction between societal stigma, personal identity, and mental-health challenges. Results It is found that the depression-recovery experience can be divided into four stages from an anti-stigma perspective: (1) encountering the public stigma of emotions; (2) internalizing the stigma to a self-stigma; (3) "decriminalizing" the expected stigma of a "depressed" identity through diagnosis; and (4) being able to cope with and understanding the public stigma relating to depression when facing it again. Key factors that were found to contribute to recovery were self-awareness, community empowerment, and recognition and acceptance by close friends and family. Discussion We propose a reconceptualization of depression that incorporates a societal perspective on internalized stigma. Recovery from depression is not merely a medical process; it also pertains to how the patient frees themselves from public stigma. The results strongly indicate the need for a paradigm shift toward a more inclusive and empathetic approach to mental-health care, and we emphasize the importance of personal narratives in depression recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Zhu
- Institute of Vocational & Adult Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Keyi Lyu
- Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Chinese Education Modernization Research Institute of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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Kotera Y, Kirkman A, Beaumont J, Komorowska MA, Such E, Kaneda Y, Rushforth A. Self-Compassion during COVID-19 in Non-WEIRD Countries: A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2016. [PMID: 37510457 PMCID: PMC10378945 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11142016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted people's mental health negatively worldwide, including in non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic) countries. Self-compassion, kindness and understanding towards oneself in difficult times have received increasing attention in the field of mental health. Self-compassion is strongly associated with good mental health in various populations. This narrative review aimed to synthesise the evidence on self-compassion and mental health in non-WEIRD countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for empirical studies. Self-compassion was consistently associated with positive mental health in non-WEIRD countries too. However, how, and to what degree, each component of self-compassion impacts mental health remains to be evaluated across different cultures. Future research such as multi-national intervention studies, or component network meta-analysis, is needed to advance our understanding of how self-compassion improves mental health in different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Kotera
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
| | - Ann Kirkman
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Julie Beaumont
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | | | - Elizabeth Such
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
| | - Yudai Kaneda
- School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Annabel Rushforth
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
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Rushforth A, Durk M, Rothwell-Blake GAA, Kirkman A, Ng F, Kotera Y. Self-Compassion Interventions to Target Secondary Traumatic Stress in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6109. [PMID: 37372696 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare professionals' wellbeing can be adversely affected by the intense demands of, and the secondary traumatic stress associated with, their job. Self-compassion is associated with positive wellbeing outcomes across a variety of workforce populations and is potentially an important skill for healthcare workers, as it offers a way of meeting one's own distress with kindness and understanding. This systematic review aimed to synthesise and evaluate the utility of self-compassion interventions in reducing secondary traumatic stress in a healthcare worker population. Eligible articles were identified from research databases, including ProQuest, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and EBSCO. The quality of non-randomised and randomised trials was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The literature search yielded 234 titles, from which 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies reported promising effects of self-compassion training for secondary traumatic stress in a healthcare population, although these did not use controls. The methodological quality of these studies was medium. This highlights a research gap in this area. Three of these four studies recruited workers from Western countries and one recruited from a non-Western country. The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used to evaluate secondary traumatic stress in all studies. The findings show preliminary evidence that self-compassion training may improve secondary traumatic stress in healthcare professional populations; however, there is a need for greater methodological quality in this field and controlled trials. The findings also show that the majority of research was conducted in Western countries. Future research should focus on a broader range of geographical locations to include non-Western countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Rushforth
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Mia Durk
- Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | | | - Ann Kirkman
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Fiona Ng
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK
| | - Yasuhiro Kotera
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK
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Kotera Y, Liu G, Colman R, Young H, Ozaki A, Miyatake H, Kosaka M, Tanimoto T. A longitudinal study of mental health in healthcare workers in Japan during the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic: comparison with the general population. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-4. [PMID: 37359617 PMCID: PMC9999062 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04444-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of people in Japan. Healthcare workers (HCWs) especially suffered from poor mental health, engaging with COVID-19 patients while protecting themselves from infection. However, a long-term assessment of their mental health in comparison to the general population remains to be conducted. This study evaluated and compared changes in mental health between these two populations over a six-month period. Measures of mental health, loneliness, hope and self-compassion were completed at baseline and at six-month follow-up. Two-way MANOVA (Time x Group) identified that no interaction effects were present. However, at baseline, HCWs had higher levels of mental health problems and loneliness, and lower levels of hope and self-compassion than the general population. Furthermore, a higher level of loneliness was found in HCWs at six months. These findings highlight strong feelings of loneliness in HCWs in Japan. Interventions such as digital social prescribing are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Kotera
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2TU Nottingham, UK
| | - Gillian Liu
- College of Health, Psychology & Social Care, University of Derby, DE22 1GB Derby, UK
| | - Rory Colman
- College of Health, Psychology & Social Care, University of Derby, DE22 1GB Derby, UK
| | - Holly Young
- College of Health, Psychology & Social Care, University of Derby, DE22 1GB Derby, UK
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Department of Breast Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, 972-8322 Iwaki, Japan
- Medical Governance Research Institute, 108-0074 Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Tetsuya Tanimoto
- Department of Breast Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, 972-8322 Iwaki, Japan
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Self-Compassion Correlates of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Youth: A Comparison of Two Self-Compassion Measures. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9121930. [PMID: 36553373 PMCID: PMC9777121 DOI: 10.3390/children9121930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Self-compassion is considered as a protective psychological construct that would shield against the development of emotional problems. The aim of the present study was to compare the 'protective nature' of two measures of self-compassion: the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (SCS-Y) and the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S). METHODS Eighty-seven adolescents aged 12 to 18 years completed both self-compassion measures as well as scales of anxiety and depression symptoms. RESULTS SCS-Y and SOCS-S scores were positively correlated, and for both measures it was generally found that higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower levels of emotional symptoms. However, the uncompassionate self-responding scales of the SCS-Y correlated positively with anxiety and depression symptoms and hence can better be seen as indices of vulnerability. Regression analyses suggested that a positive attitude toward oneself, as measured by the self-kindness scale of the SCS or its SOCS-S equivalent 'feeling for the person suffering' is particularly relevant as a buffer against emotional problems. CONCLUSION The protective nature of self-compassion can be established by both measures. Caution is advised with the use of the uncompassionate self-responding scales included in the SCS-Y as they appear to measure vulnerability rather than protection.
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Kotera Y, Aledeh M, Barnes K, Rushforth A, Adam H, Riswani R. Academic Motivation of Indonesian University Students: Relationship with Self-Compassion and Resilience. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:2092. [PMID: 36292539 PMCID: PMC9602508 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10102092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Academic motivation is an important construct for university students, associated with student wellbeing and academic performance. Students who are motivated tend to feel and perform well. Self-compassion, that is kindness and understanding towards oneself in difficult times, and resilience, an ability to bounce back from difficulties, are also associated with student wellbeing and academic achievement. However, how these variables are related to each other has not been evaluated in Indonesian university students. Indonesian higher education has rapidly developed, focusing on student achievement while their wellbeing suffers. Understanding how academic motivation is linked with self-compassion and resilience can inform an effective way to augment their motivation. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship among these three variables. An opportunity sample of 156 students in Indonesia completed measures about those three constructs. Correlation, regression and moderation analyses were used. Intrinsic motivation was positively associated with extrinsic motivation and resilience. Amotivation was negatively associated with self-compassion and resilience. Self-compassion was positively associated with resilience. Both self-compassion and resilience predicted all three types of motivation apart from self-compassion for intrinsic motivation. Lastly, self-compassion nor resilience moderated the pathway from extrinsic motivation to intrinsic motivation. Resilience interventions are recommended for Indonesian students to maintain intrinsic motivation. Our findings will help educators and wellbeing staff to identify helpful ways to support healthful motivation in this student population that is undergoing drastic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Kotera
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
| | - Muhammad Aledeh
- Danube City Hospital, Vienna Health Association, Langobardenstraße 122, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristian Barnes
- Moriarty, Flynn and Barnes, 51 Goldhill Plaza, #07-10/11, Singapore 308900, Singapore
| | - Annabel Rushforth
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Habib Adam
- Department of Computer Science, University of Applied Sciences, FH Technikum Vienna, Höchstädtpl. 6, 1200 Wien, Austria
| | - Riswani Riswani
- Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Pekanbaru 28293, Indonesia
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Kotera Y, Young H, Maybury S, Aledeh M. Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress to Psychopathologies among Japanese Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912423. [PMID: 36231737 PMCID: PMC9566548 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
As awareness of mental health increases worldwide, how to improve mental health has begun to be discussed in many countries. Stress is known to cause diverse physical and mental health problems, including psychopathologies. On the other hand, our previous studies identified that self-compassion, kindness and understanding towards oneself are key components for good mental health in many populations, including Japanese workers. The government reports that Japanese workers suffer from high rates of mental health problems. However, the mechanism of how self-compassion helps their mental health remains to be evaluated. Accordingly, this study aimed to elucidate how self-compassion intervenes in pathways from stress to psychopathologies, namely depression and anxiety. One hundred and sixty-five Japanese workers completed an online survey regarding self-compassion, depression, anxiety and stress. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. These four variables were significantly inter-related. While self-compassion mediated the pathway from stress to depression, it did not mediate the pathway from stress to anxiety. These exploratory insights assist in understanding the mechanism of how self-compassion improves mental health and inform effective methods to implement self-compassion interventions to the Japanese workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Kotera
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Holly Young
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Sarah Maybury
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Muhammad Aledeh
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
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