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Varley D, Sherwell CS, Kirby JN. Attachment and propensity for reporting compassionate opportunities and behavior in everyday life. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1409537. [PMID: 39144592 PMCID: PMC11322129 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1409537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Researchers have identified links between anxious and avoidant attachments and difficulties with self-compassion, giving others compassion, and receiving compassion. However, while compassion requires both awareness of opportunities for compassion and compassionate action, little is known about attachment-related differences in reporting compassionate opportunities. Further, most research relies on retrospective-reports that may not accurately assess compassionate behaviors in everyday life. Method Consequently, we collected 2,757 experience sampling survey responses from 125 participants (95 women, 27 men, 3 non-binary, M age = 18.74, SD age = 1.66) to investigate whether attachment anxiety, avoidance, or their interaction were associated with differences in propensity for reporting compassionate opportunities, actions, and emotional responses to opportunities in everyday life across self-compassion, giving compassion, and receiving compassion. Results Anxiety was associated with greater likelihood of reporting all types of compassionate opportunities and less positive responses to opportunities to receive compassion. Avoidance was associated with less likelihood of reporting opportunities to give and receive compassion and less positive responses to opportunities to give compassion. Those high in anxiety but simultaneously low in avoidance reported fewer self-compassionate actions, but we identified no further differences in compassionate action. Discussion This study highlights the potential role of awareness of compassionate opportunities in attachment-related differences in compassion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna Varley
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, QLD, Australia
| | - Chase S. Sherwell
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- The UQ Learning Lab, School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James N. Kirby
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Murfield J, Moyle W, O'Donovan A, Ware RS. The Role of Self-Compassion, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Emotion Regulation in the Psychological Health of Family Carers of Older Adults. Clin Gerontol 2024; 47:316-328. [PMID: 33263503 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2020.1846650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study explored the role of compassion and dispositional mindfulness in the psychological health of family carers of older adults and tested for potential mediating effects of emotion regulation difficulties and adaptive coping strategies. METHODS A sample of 141 family carers of adults aged 65 years or older with chronic conditions completed a cross-sectional survey between July - December 2019. The survey included self-report scales that measured: self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion from others, dispositional mindfulness, depression, anxiety, stress, emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies, and difficulties in emotion regulation. RESULTS Path analyses found that increased self-compassion and increased dispositional mindfulness was associated with lower psychological distress, and that this was mediated by reduced difficulties in emotion regulation. The model had excellent fit, explaining 64.8% of the variance in psychological distress, and 52.2% of the variance in emotion regulation difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Self-compassion and dispositional mindfulness may help buffer the psychological distress of family carers of older adults, and adaptive emotion regulation is an important mechanism of change in these relationships. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Interventions that aim to cultivate self-compassion and mindfulness could be clinically useful in reducing psychological distress within populations of family carers of older adults by promoting adaptive emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Murfield
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Wendy Moyle
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Robert S Ware
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
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Liu X, Cao G, Zhang L, Chen Y, Liu S, Shi Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Yin H. Early Emotional Experiences and Prosocial Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Psychological Suzhi and Subjective Socioeconomic Status. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13040283. [PMID: 37102797 PMCID: PMC10136347 DOI: 10.3390/bs13040283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prosocial behavior plays a vital role in adolescents’ well-being and social functioning, with the recall of early emotional experiences being a major influence. Positive experiences such as early memories of warmth and safeness (EMWS) contribute to prosocial interpersonal characteristics, whereas adverse experiences such as child psychological abuse and neglect (CPAN) lead to social withdrawal or behavioral problems. The direct effects of EMWS and CPAN on prosocial behavior were investigated in this study, along with the mediation effect of psychological suzhi and the moderation effect of subjective socioeconomic status (SSS). A sample of 948 adolescents (Mage = 14.05 years, SD = 1.68 years; 43.6% females) was randomly recruited to complete self-report questionnaires. Correlation results indicated that EMWS promoted prosocial behavior, whereas CPAN was negatively associated with prosocial behavior. Path analyses confirmed the mediating role of psychological suzhi on the effects of EMWS and CPAN on prosocial behavior. SSS was shown to moderate the effects of EMWS on prosocial behavior and CPAN on psychological suzhi. Compared to lower SSS, higher SSS would reinforce the positive impact of EMWS on prosocial behavior and exacerbate the negative impact of CPAN on psychological suzhi. The current study provided new insight into understanding the underlying mechanisms of prosocial behavior from the perspective of early emotional experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Gege Cao
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Sige Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Yunpeng Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Yulin Li
- School of Business Administration, Hunan University of Finance and Economics, Changsha 410205, China
| | - Huazhan Yin
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Center for Mind & Brain Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
- Correspondence:
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A Psychotherapy Oriented by Compassion and Metacognition for Schizoid Personality Disorder: A Two Cases Series. JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10879-022-09566-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Zhang H, Jasim SA, Suksatan W, Hashim Alghazali TA, Doewes RI, Jalil AT, Patra I, Singer N, Failoc-Rojas VE, Marhoon HA, Mustafa YF, Ramírez-Coronel AA, Abdollahi A. Moderating role of compassion in the link between fear of Coronavirus disease and mental health among undergraduate students. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:990678. [PMID: 36147995 PMCID: PMC9486091 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The societal challenges presented by fear related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may present unique challenges for an individual's mental health. However, the moderating role of compassion in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health has not been well-studied. The present study aimed to explore the association between fear of COVID-19 and mental health, as well as test the buffering role of compassion in this relationship. Methods The participants in this study were 325 Iranian undergraduate students (228 females), aged 18-25 years, who completed questionnaires posted on social networks via a web-based platform. Results The results showed that fear of COVID-19 was positively related with physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. The results also showed that compassion was negatively associated with physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. The interaction-moderation analysis revealed that compassion moderated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and subscale of mental health. Conclusion Results highlight the important role of compassion in diminishing the effect of fear of COVID-19 on the mental health (physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms) of undergraduate students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huichun Zhang
- Student Work Department of the Party Committee and Student Work Department, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Saade Abdalkareem Jasim
- Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar-Ramadi, Iraq
| | - Wanich Suksatan
- Faculty of Nursing, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Rumi Iqbal Doewes
- Faculty of Sport, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Kentingan, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Abduladheem Turki Jalil
- Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Hilla, Iraq
| | - Indrajit Patra
- Independent Researcher, NIT Durgapur, West Bengal, India
| | - Nermeen Singer
- Media and Children's Culture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas
- Centro de Investigación en Medicina Traslacional, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima, Peru
| | - Haydar Abdulameer Marhoon
- Information and Communication Technology Research Group, Scientific Research Center, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
| | - Andrés Alexis Ramírez-Coronel
- Laboratory of Psychometrics and Ethology and Health and Behavior Research Group, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Ecuador
- Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
- Universidad Nacional del EcuadorCuenca, Ecuador
- Universidad dePalermo, Argentina
| | - Abbas Abdollahi
- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
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Bayır-Toper A, Sellman E, Joseph S. Being yourself for the ‘greater good’: An empirical investigation of the moderation effect of authenticity between self-compassion and compassion for others. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-00989-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSelf-compassion offers profound benefits to well-being and healthy psychological functioning. Surprisingly however, the relationship assumed between compassion for self and others has been questioned by recent research findings and is at best inconsistently correlated. The aim of this study is to throw further light on this debate by testing whether the association between self-compassion and compassion for others is moderated by authenticity amongst 530 participants who completed the Authenticity Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Compassion Scale. The results show that authenticity has a moderation effect on the association between self-compassion and the kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, and indifference subscales of the Compassion Scale. These results offer some initial insight into understanding the association between compassion for self and others and establish a case for researching the role of authenticity more thoroughly. The findings of this investigation call for further empirical attention to socially constructive aspects of authenticity and the development of new authenticity measurements that may better assess the interaction effect.
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Fleury J, Sedikides C, Wildschut T, Coon DW, Komnenich P. Feeling Safe and Nostalgia in Healthy Aging. Front Psychol 2022; 13:843051. [PMID: 35444598 PMCID: PMC9015039 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.843051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The population of older adults worldwide is growing, with an urgent need for approaches that develop and maintain intrinsic capacity consistent with healthy aging. Theory and empirical research converge on feeling safe as central to healthy aging. However, there has been limited attention to resources that cultivate feeling safe to support healthy aging. Nostalgia, "a sentimental longing for one's past," is established as a source of comfort in response to social threat, existential threat, and self-threat. Drawing from extant theory and research, we build on these findings to position nostalgia as a regulatory resource that cultivates feeling safe and contributes to intrinsic capacity to support healthy aging. Using a narrative review method, we: (a) characterize feeling safe as a distinct affective dimension, (b) summarize the character of nostalgia in alignment with feeling safe, (c) propose a theoretical account of the mechanisms through which nostalgia cultivates feeling safe, (d) highlight the contribution of nostalgia to feeling safe and emotional, physiological, and behavioral regulatory capabilities in healthy aging, and (e) offer conclusions and direction for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Fleury
- Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Constantine Sedikides
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Wildschut
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Coon
- Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Pauline Komnenich
- Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Carvalho SA, Guiomar R. Self-Compassion and Mental Health in Sexual and Gender Minority People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. LGBT Health 2022; 9:287-302. [PMID: 35357950 DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2021.0434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Literature shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at higher risk of developing minority stress-related mental health problems. Recently, it has been suggested that promoting self-compassion through affirmative mental health care for SGM people can be beneficial. However, no systematic analysis has been published exploring the relationship between self-compassion and mental health indicators in SGM individuals. We aim to fill this gap by synthesizing and meta-analyzing studies that focus on the relationship between self-compassion and mental health in SGM people. Methods: After registering in PROSPERO (CRD42021254774), PubMed, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Web of Knowledge were systematically searched to identify studies assessing the association between self-compassion and mental health and/or minority stress indicators in SGM individuals. All screening steps and data extraction were performed independently by the two researchers. The quality of each study was assessed with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute tool, and meta-analysis was performed on R software. Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis, corresponding to a total of 6573 nonheterosexual and/or noncisgender participants. All meta-analytic models were significant: higher levels of self-compassion were associated with less depression, anxiety, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, internalized homophobia/transphobia, and stigma, and with more well-being, outness, and social support. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that self-compassion is significantly associated with mental health indicators in SGM people, and this relationship is especially strong with internalized homophobia/transphobia in older SGM adults, and with suicidal ideation in younger SGM individuals. Results suggest that affirmative mental health care may benefit from promoting self-compassion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio A Carvalho
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raquel Guiomar
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Compassion Protects Mental Health and Social Safeness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across 21 Countries. Mindfulness (N Y) 2022; 13:863-880. [PMID: 35003380 PMCID: PMC8724602 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-021-01822-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented detrimental impact on mental health in people around the world. It is important therefore to explore factors that may buffer or accentuate the risk of mental health problems in this context. Given that compassion has numerous benefits for mental health, emotion regulation, and social relationships, this study examines the buffering effects of different flows of compassion (for self, for others, from others) against the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety, and stress, and social safeness. Methods The study was conducted in a sample of 4057 adult participants from the general community population, collected across 21 countries from Europe, Middle East, North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania. Participants completed self-report measures of perceived threat of COVID-19, compassion (for self, for others, from others), depression, anxiety, stress, and social safeness. Results Perceived threat of COVID-19 was associated with higher scores in depression, anxiety, and stress, and lower scores in social safeness. Self-compassion and compassion from others were associated with lower psychological distress and higher social safeness. Compassion for others was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Self-compassion moderated the relationship between perceived threat of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas compassion from others moderated the effects of fears of contracting COVID-19 on social safeness. These effects were consistent across all countries. Conclusions Our findings highlight the universal protective role of compassion, in particular self-compassion and compassion from others, in promoting resilience by buffering against the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and social safeness. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-021-01822-2.
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Matos M, McEwan K, Kanovský M, Halamová J, Steindl SR, Ferreira N, Linharelhos M, Rijo D, Asano K, Vilas SP, Márquez MG, Gregório S, Brito-Pons G, Lucena-Santos P, Oliveira MDS, de Souza EL, Llobenes L, Gumiy N, Costa MI, Habib N, Hakem R, Khrad H, Alzahrani A, Cheli S, Petrocchi N, Tholouli E, Issari P, Simos G, Lunding-Gregersen V, Elklit A, Kolts R, Kelly AC, Bortolon C, Delamillieure P, Paucsik M, Wahl JE, Zieba M, Zatorski M, Komendziński T, Zhang S, Basran J, Kagialis A, Kirby J, Gilbert P. The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related post-traumatic growth and stress. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261384. [PMID: 34910779 PMCID: PMC8673633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Historically social connection has been an important way through which humans have coped with large-scale threatening events. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns have deprived people of major sources of social support and coping, with others representing threats. Hence, a major stressor during the pandemic has been a sense of social disconnection and loneliness. This study explores how people's experience of compassion and feeling socially safe and connected, in contrast to feeling socially disconnected, lonely and fearful of compassion, effects the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress. METHODS Adult participants from the general population (N = 4057) across 21 countries worldwide, completed self-report measures of social connection (compassion for self, from others, for others; social safeness), social disconnection (fears of compassion for self, from others, for others; loneliness), perceived threat of COVID-19, post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress. RESULTS Perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted increased post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress. Social connection (compassion and social safeness) predicted higher post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress, whereas social disconnection (fears of compassion and loneliness) predicted increased traumatic symptoms only. Social connection heightened the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth, while social disconnection weakened this impact. Social disconnection magnified the impact of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on traumatic stress. These effects were consistent across all countries. CONCLUSIONS Social connection is key to how people adapt and cope with the worldwide COVID-19 crisis and may facilitate post-traumatic growth in the context of the threat experienced during the pandemic. In contrast, social disconnection increases vulnerability to develop post-traumatic stress in this threatening context. Public health and Government organizations could implement interventions to foster compassion and feelings of social safeness and reduce experiences of social disconnection, thus promoting growth, resilience and mental wellbeing during and following the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Matos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kirsten McEwan
- Centre for Compassion Research and Training, College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Kanovský
- Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Institute of Social Anthropology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Júlia Halamová
- Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Institute of Applied Psychology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stanley R. Steindl
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nuno Ferreira
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Mariana Linharelhos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel Rijo
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kenichi Asano
- Department of Psychological Counseling, Faculty of Psychology, Mejiro University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sara P. Vilas
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita G. Márquez
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sónia Gregório
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Brito-Pons
- Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola Lucena-Santos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Margareth da Silva Oliveira
- Evaluation and Treatment in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies—Research Group (GAAPCC), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Noor Habib
- Neuroscience Department, Section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reham Hakem
- Neuroscience Department, Section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Khrad
- Neuroscience Department, Section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Alzahrani
- Neuroscience Department, Section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simone Cheli
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola Petrocchi
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
| | - Elli Tholouli
- Center for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial Well-being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Philia Issari
- Center for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial Well-being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gregoris Simos
- Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Ask Elklit
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Russell Kolts
- Department of Psychology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, United States of America
| | - Allison C. Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Catherine Bortolon
- Laboratoire Inter-universitaire de Psychologie: Personnalité, Cognition et Changement Social, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
- Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère, C3R - Réhabilitation psychosociale et remédiation cognitive, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Delamillieure
- CHU de Caen, Service de Psychiatrie Adulte, Caen, France
- UNICAEN, ISTS, GIP Cyceron, University of Normandy, Caen, France
| | - Marine Paucsik
- Laboratoire Inter-universitaire de Psychologie: Personnalité, Cognition et Changement Social, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Julia E. Wahl
- The Mind Institute Poland, Warsaw, Poland
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw & Poznań, Poland
| | - Mariusz Zieba
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw & Poznań, Poland
| | - Mateusz Zatorski
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw & Poznań, Poland
| | - Tomasz Komendziński
- Department of Cognitive Science, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torún, Poland
- Neurocognitive Laboratory, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torún, Poland
| | - Shuge Zhang
- School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Jaskaran Basran
- Centre for Compassion Research and Training, College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Antonios Kagialis
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - James Kirby
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Gilbert
- Centre for Compassion Research and Training, College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
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Farr J, Ononaiye M, Irons C. Early shaming experiences and psychological distress: The role of experiential avoidance and self-compassion. Psychol Psychother 2021; 94:952-972. [PMID: 34296792 DOI: 10.1111/papt.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Early shaming experiences have been suggested to be associated with later psychopathological symptoms. Understanding this relationship is complex, due to a number of psychological processes potentially influencing this. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to further explore the nature of the mediating effect of experiential avoidance in the association between early shame experiences and psychological distress, and whether self-compassion moderates this relationship by mitigating the effects of this. DESIGN A cross-sectional design was conducted using self-report measures of early shaming experiences, experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and psychological distress. METHOD An online study of 556 participants, comprised of participants from the general population and university students participated within this online study. RESULTS The moderated mediation model explained 51% of variance within depressive symptoms. Experiential avoidance was found to mediate the association between early shaming experiences and depressive symptoms. This mediating relationship was shown to be moderated by self-compassion, with higher levels of self-compassion being associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms across all levels of experiential avoidance levels (low, medium, and high). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that self-compassion may play a significant buffering role within attenuating the effects of experiential avoidance associated with depressive symptoms. Such findings present important clinical and theoretical implications in further understanding the protective role of self-compassion within early shaming experiences and the relationship between depressive symptoms. PRACTITIONER POINTS Early shaming experiences have been linked to later psychological distress. Experiential avoidance identified a core underlying psychological process in the relationship between early shaming experiences and psychological distress. Self-compassion offers a range of protective features that may alleviate the effects of experiential avoidance and depressive symptoms. Self-compassion-based interventions that target experiential avoidance may offer greater reductions within depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chris Irons
- University College London and Balanced Minds, UK
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12
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Advancing the assessment of compassion: Psychometric study of the compassion motivation and action scales in a Portuguese sample. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02311-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Matos M, McEwan K, Kanovský M, Halamová J, Steindl SR, Ferreira N, Linharelhos M, Rijo D, Asano K, Gregório S, Márquez MG, Vilas SP, Brito-Pons G, Lucena-Santos P, da Silva Oliveira M, de Souza EL, Llobenes L, Gumiy N, Costa MI, Habib N, Hakem R, Khrad H, Alzahrani A, Cheli S, Petrocchi N, Tholouli E, Issari P, Simos G, Lunding-Gregersen V, Elklit A, Kolts R, Kelly AC, Bortolon C, Delamillieure P, Paucsik M, Wahl JE, Zieba M, Zatorski M, Komendziński T, Zhang S, Basran J, Kagialis A, Kirby J, Gilbert P. Fears of compassion magnify the harmful effects of threat of COVID-19 on mental health and social safeness across 21 countries. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 28:1317-1333. [PMID: 33880832 PMCID: PMC8251194 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID‐19 pandemic is a massive global health crisis with damaging consequences to mental health and social relationships. Exploring factors that may heighten or buffer the risk of mental health problems in this context is thus critical. Whilst compassion may be a protective factor, in contrast fears of compassion increase vulnerability to psychosocial distress and may amplify the impact of the pandemic on mental health. This study explores the magnifying effects of fears of compassion on the impact of perceived threat of COVID‐19 on depression, anxiety and stress, and social safeness. Methods Adult participants from the general population (N = 4057) were recruited across 21 countries worldwide, and completed self‐report measures of perceived threat of COVID‐19, fears of compassion (for self, from others, for others), depression, anxiety, stress and social safeness. Results Perceived threat of COVID‐19 predicted increased depression, anxiety and stress. The three flows of fears of compassion predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress and lower social safeness. All fears of compassion moderated (heightened) the impact of perceived threat of COVID‐19 on psychological distress. Only fears of compassion from others moderated the effects of likelihood of contracting COVID‐19 on social safeness. These effects were consistent across all countries. Conclusions Fears of compassion have a universal magnifying effect on the damaging impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mental health and social safeness. Compassion focused interventions and communications could be implemented to reduce resistances to compassion and promote mental wellbeing during and following the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Matos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kirsten McEwan
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Martin Kanovský
- Institute of Social Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Júlia Halamová
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stanley R Steindl
- School of Psychology, Compassionate Mind Research Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nuno Ferreira
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Mariana Linharelhos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel Rijo
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kenichi Asano
- Department of Psychological Counseling, Faculty of Psychology, Mejiro University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sónia Gregório
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita G Márquez
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara P Vilas
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Behavior, Emotions, and Health Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Brito-Pons
- Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola Lucena-Santos
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Margareth da Silva Oliveira
- Evaluation and Treatment in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies-Research Group (GAAPCC), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Noor Habib
- Neuroscience Department, section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reham Hakem
- Neuroscience Department, section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Khrad
- Neuroscience Department, section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Alzahrani
- Neuroscience Department, section of Psychiatry and Psychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simone Cheli
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola Petrocchi
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
| | - Elli Tholouli
- Center for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial Well-being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Philia Issari
- Center for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial Well-being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gregoris Simos
- Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Ask Elklit
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Russell Kolts
- Department of Psychology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA
| | - Allison C Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Bortolon
- Laboratoire Inter-universitaire de Psychologie : Personnalité, Cognition et Changement Social, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France.,C3R-Réhabilitation Psychosociale et Remédiation Cognitive, Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Delamillieure
- Service de Psychiatrie Adulte, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.,UNICAEN, ISTS, GIP Cyceron, University of Normandy, Caen, France
| | - Marine Paucsik
- Laboratoire Inter-universitaire de Psychologie : Personnalité, Cognition et Changement Social, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Julia E Wahl
- The Mind Institute Poland, Warsaw, Poland.,SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw& Poznań, Poland
| | - Mariusz Zieba
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw& Poznań, Poland
| | - Mateusz Zatorski
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw& Poznań, Poland
| | - Tomasz Komendziński
- Department of Cognitive Science, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torún, Poland.,Neurocognitive Laboratory, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torún, Poland
| | - Shuge Zhang
- School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Jaskaran Basran
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Antonios Kagialis
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - James Kirby
- School of Psychology, Compassionate Mind Research Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Gilbert
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, Derby, UK
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14
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The Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness Scale: Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance. J Affect Disord 2021; 280:228-235. [PMID: 33220558 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research has shown that rearing styles and early emotional memories, especially those related to feelings of threat or safeness, play a key role in subsequent emotional and social adjustment throughout the lifespan. Several authors have argued for the study of early memories of warmth and safeness rather than rearing styles. The Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness Scale (EMWSS) has proven to be a valid instrument to do so. This study adds to previous research about the EMWSS by investigating its dimensionality throughout confirmatory analysis procedures and its measurement invariance between male and females in an adult sample. METHODS A sample of 502 adults (51.2% female, Mean age = 36.46 years, SD = 13.79) recruited from a community sample in Portugal was collected. In addition to the EMWSS, participants completed measures of recall of parental rearing behavior, attachment, self-criticism, self-reassuring, self-compassion and psychopathology. RESULTS A one-factor measurement model revealed a good fit to the data and the instrument showed excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .96. The EMWSS also proved to be gender invariant. Regarding construct validity, the EMWSS was found to be associated with external variables in the expected direction. LIMITATIONS The convenience sample used might be not representative of the general population. CONCLUSION This work highlights the relevance of the EMWSS in helping to advance knowledge on how early memories of warmth and safeness impact on psychopathological outcomes, and of making it available for use in research and clinical settings.
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Capinha M, Rijo D, Matos M, Pereira M. The Compass of Shame Scale: Dimensionality and Gender Measurement Invariance in a Portuguese Sample. J Pers Assess 2021; 103:807-817. [PMID: 33417501 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2020.1866587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Different shame coping strategies directly influence shame experience. However, the assessment of these strategies has received little attention. The Compass of Shame Scale (CoSS-5) was developed to assess shame-coping styles and has proven to be a valid measure. In this study, the CoSS-5 dimensionality was examined throughout confirmatory analysis and its measurement invariance across gender was investigated for the original (four-factor) and a new recently proposed measurement model (five-factor). The sample consisted of 605 Portuguese adults (57.5% female; Mean age = 35.43) recruited from the community. In addition to the CoSS-5, participants completed other measures relevant for construct validity. Both the four and the five-factor measurement models revealed a good fit to the data. Good reliability values were found for all factors, with Cronbach's alphas ranging between .79 and .90. The CoSS-5 also proved to be gender invariant, regardless of the measurement model. The subscales of CoSS-5 associated in the expected direction with measures of external shame, self-critical and self-reassuring responses, psychological flexibility/inflexibility, and psychopathology symptoms. This study highlights the relevance of the CoSS-5 in advancing knowledge on the impact of shame-coping styles on psychopathological outcomes, making it available for use in research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Capinha
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel Rijo
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marlene Matos
- University of Minho, Psychology Research Center, School of Psychology, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marco Pereira
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
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