Differences in Compassion, Well-being, and Social Anxiety between Japan and the USA

Exploring the Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Compassion for Others: The Role of Psychological Distress and Wellbeing

We addressed construct validity and explored the relationship between self-compassion and compassion for others using the two main current operationalizations of compassion (Neff's and the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales, SOCSs). Relationships with psychological distress and wellbeing, and potential differences in the association between self-compassion and compassion for others by level of psychological distress and wellbeing were also explored. Participants (n = 811) completed the Spanish adaptations of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the Compassion Scale (CS), the SOCSs (for the self/others), the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). We fitted bifactor models to estimate the general factor of each construct for the different operationalizations, and calculated correlations between them. Relationships between self-compassion and compassion for others from the same operationalization were intermediate, while those between the same constructs from different operationalizations were large. Both constructs showed positive associations with wellbeing, while only self-compassion was associated with decreased psychological distress. Participants with good mental health showed higher associations between self-compassion and compassion for others than those with poorer mental health. Self-compassion and compassion for others appear to be dimensional constructs that can converge or diverge. When they converge, it is associated with better mental health.

Peer support meeting of people with dementia: a qualitative descriptive analysis of the discussions

BACKGROUND

Dementia cafés for people with dementia and their caregivers are promoted in national dementia policies. The effect of dementia cafés on people with dementia has been reported through narratives of caregivers who participated the dementia cafés. However, evidence derived from the data, which included only people with dementia, is sparse. The aim of this study is to analyze the narratives of people with dementia in peer support meetings in Tokyo where only people with dementia participate, i.e., caregivers were not present.

METHODS

People with dementia and older people with subjective cognitive impairment were recruited in our community-based participatory research centre. Based on the qualitative descriptive approach, we conducted a thematic analysis of the field notes, which was made through ethnographical observation of the meetings.

RESULTS

Twenty-five meetings were held from November 2018 to March 2020. The cumulative total number of participants was 196. First, the symptomatic problems related to living with dementia were mentioned, which were collectively named under the overarching category of 'Experience of living with dementia.' Second, questions and solutions to the various symptoms were discussed, which were named the 'Quest of Symptoms.' Third, we noted the narrative that reflected on daily life, feelings, and the life that one has led, which were named 'Life story.' Fourth, we noted narratives of how symptoms have improved and their world has expanded, which were named 'Hope.' Fifth and most importantly, narratives about compassion for people with dementia in the past and future, as well as for people of the same generation, were discussed, which were named 'Compassion.'

CONCLUSIONS

The lived experiences of people with dementia were revealed. Participants noted they were not just being cared for but exchanging information and exploring the symptoms; in other words, they were resilient. Furthermore, more positive aspects concerning living with dementia were discussed, such as 'Hope' and 'Compassion.' Further research concerning the discourse of people around the participants is necessary to evaluate the situation from multiple perspectives.

Mental health and psychological resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural comparison of Japan, Malaysia, China, and the U.S

BACKGROUND

The current study examined how psychological resilience acted as a buffer against mental health deterioration during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted an online survey in four countries (Japan, Malaysia, China, and the U.S.) to examine how psychological resilience functions toward the maintenance of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We collected data from 1583 citizens from four countries via an online survey between October 14 and November 2, 2020. We gathered demographic data and measured mental distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and fear of COVID-19. Data on sense of control, ego-resilience, grit, self-compassion, and resilience indicators were also collected.

RESULTS

Sense of control was negatively associated with mental distress in all four countries. Self-compassion was negatively associated with mental distress in the samples from Japan, China, and the U.S. We also found an interaction effect for sense of control: the lower the sense of control, the stronger the deterioration of mental distress when the fear of COVID-19 was high.

LIMITATIONS

This study's cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences. Further, lack of data from people who were actually infected with the virus limits comparisons of people who were and were not infected. Finally, as this study only compared data from four countries, comparisons with more countries are needed.

CONCLUSIONS

A sense of control and self-compassion may help buffer against mental health deterioration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sense of control was consistently associated with mental health across cultures.

The Correlation Between Self-Compassion and Life Satisfaction Varies Across Societal Individualism-Collectivism: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis

Self-compassion is positively correlated with life satisfaction. However, no previous work examined the cross-cultural difference regarding the effect size of this correlation. Using 79 independent samples ( N = 23,976) from 26 countries/regions, this three-level meta-analysis synthesized the effect sizes of their correlation, partitioned the between-study heterogeneity into the within- and between-country levels, and examined the moderating role of national culture according to the revised Minkov-Hofstede model. Results indicated that self-compassion was positively correlated with life satisfaction, with a moderate-to-large effect size (.40 ≤  r ≤ .47); 33.66% and 35.73% of the effect size variance could be attributed to the within-country and between-country heterogeneities; this correlation was stronger in samples collected from more individualistic societies. This study highlights that self-compassion may fit differently into different cultural realities and the importance of raising cultural awareness in future self-compassion research.

Assessing Compassion in Korean Population: Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales

A newly developed scale, the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scale (SOCS) measures compassion for others and the self-based on an empirically supported five-elements definition of compassion: (a) recognizing suffering; (b) understanding the universality of suffering; (c) feeling for the person suffering; (d) tolerating uncomfortable feelings; and (e) motivation to act/acting to alleviate suffering. This study aimed to validate a Korean version of SOCS in a Korean adult sample. We administered the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scale for Others (SOCS-O), the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scale for the Self (SOCS-S), and other self-report measures of mindfulness, self-compassion, compassionate love, wellbeing, interpersonal reactivity, and mental health problems to analyze their psychometric properties. The findings support the five-factor hierarchical structure for the SOCS-O and SOCS-S, and as well as both scales’ adequate psychometric properties of measurement invariance, interpretability, internal consistency, floor/ceiling effects, and convergent/discriminant validity.

The effect of revised process recording on self-focus and self-compassion: A randomized controlled pilot study

DESIGN AND METHODS

Thirty-five university nursing students in Japan participated in this randomized controlled trial. The revised process recording referred to self-compassion. Both the control and intervention groups completed the self-compassion scale (SCS) pre- and post-intervention. A repeated two-way analysis of variance examined the interaction effect of time × group on the SCS subscales.

FINDINGS

A significant interaction effect was observed only for mindfulness; the score only increased in the intervention group.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The revised process recording might facilitate self-compassion, making it appropriate for nursing education.

Self-compassion and nursing competency among Japanese psychiatric nurses

PURPOSE

This study examined the association of self-focus and self-compassion with nursing competency.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Data of 433 psychiatric nurses comprising demographics, other-consciousness, self-compassion, self-focus, and nursing competency were analyzed using the Other-Consciousness Scale (OCS), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Japanese version of the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ), and Oriented Problem Solving Behavior (OPSN).

FINDINGS

Higher internal aspect and lower fantastic aspect in OCS, higher reflection in RRQ, and lower SCS negative subscales predicted a higher OPSN score. The account rate of variance was 12.5%.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Psychiatric nursing education should facilitate other-consciousness and reflection enhancement, and assuage uncompassionate attitude towards self.

Compassion protects against vital exhaustion and negative emotionality

We investigated (i) the predictive relationships of compassion with negative emotionality (a marker of susceptibility to stress) and vital exhaustion (a marker of chronic stress response) and (ii) the effect of compassion on the developmental courses of negative emotionality and vital exhaustion over a follow-up from early adulthood to middle age. We used the prospective Young Finns data (n = 1031-1495, aged 20-50). Compassion was evaluated in 1997, 2001, and 2012; and vital exhaustion and negative emotionality in 2001, 2007, and 2012. The predictive paths from compassion to vital exhaustion and negative emotionality were stronger than vice versa: high compassion predicted lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality. The effect of high compassion on lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality was evident from early adulthood to middle age. Overall, high compassion appears to protect against dimensions of stress from early adulthood to middle age, whereas this study found no evidence that dimensions of stress could reduce disposition to feel compassion for others' distress over a long-term follow-up.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11031-021-09878-2.

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

Objectives

Compassion is the beneficial response of an individual to the sufferings and difficulties of others. Self-compassion refers to feelings of concern an individual feel towards oneself. Both may serve as potential buffers in a hospital setting where caregivers attending to patients in critical condition experience emotional distress, which may lead to burnout. However, the unique contribution of compassion, both to self and others, to the decrease of burnout is unclear.

Methods

In the present study, we recruited 109 professional caregivers working in a hospital's intensive care and rehabilitative units. We explored a theoretically driven mediation model in which the relationship between compassion for self and others and burnout is mediated by different basic psychological needs, detailed in the self-determination theory.

Results

Results indicated that self-compassion and concern for others were associated with reduced levels of burnout. Each of these buffers against burnout was mediated by a unique psychological need, thereby supporting a three-layered model of (a) compassion and self-compassion, (b) basic psychological needs, and (c) burnout.

Conclusions

Our study highlights compassion and self-compassion as potential resilience factors against the challenge of burnout in healthcare. It points to promising avenues for preemptive clinical interventions.