Parent Self-Compassion and Supportive Responses to Child Difficult Emotion: An Intergenerational Theoretical Model Rooted in Attachment

Self-Compassion for Caregivers of Children in Parentally Bereaved Families: A Theoretical Model and Intervention Example

Family-based bereavement interventions have shown promises to prevent problem outcomes and promote resilience in parentally bereaved children. Evidence of the broad range of mental and physical health problems following the death of a parent supports the need for a transdiagnostic approach that promotes adaptation and reduces multiple problem outcomes for parentally bereaved families. We discuss self-compassion as a promising framework for a transdiagnostic approach. We argue that three elements of self-compassion-mindfulness (vs. over-identification), self-kindness (vs. self-judgment), and common humanity (vs. isolation)-can facilitate loss-oriented coping, restoration-oriented coping, and the oscillation process between the two. This sets the foundation for individual and family processes that support bereavement adjustment. To explain how self-compassion promotes adjustment outcomes in parentally bereaved families, we review the extant literature with a focus on parental emotion regulation and effective parenting and propose a conceptual model with testable hypotheses to guide more research in this area. The model suggests that caregivers' self-compassion is a resilience resource for multiple adaptive outcomes for themselves and for their child through its positive impacts on emotion regulation and effective parenting. We illustrate the utility of the framework with an example of a family-based bereavement prevention program that integrated self-compassion training. Future directions for research are discussed.

The association between self-compassion in the postnatal period and difficult experiences with COVID-19 pandemic-related changes during pregnancy: An observational study for women at 1-month postnatal in Japan

Aim

This observational study aimed to describe the rate and degree of difficult experiences with COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes (DE) during pregnancy, clarify the relationship between DE and self‐compassion of women postnatally, and investigate the influence of compassion from a partner (CP) and compassion from the woman's mother (CM) on this relationship.

Methods

Data from 46 1‐month postnatal women in Japan were collected through a self‐report questionnaire from October to December 2020. Self‐compassion was measured using the Japanese version of the Self‐Compassion Scale; DE, CP, and CM were measured using original questions based on prior studies.

Results

Almost all participants (97.8%) experienced more than one DE during pregnancy. Data analyses revealed that DE in maternity hospitals (d = 0.76), DE in social support (d = 0.53), and CM (d = 0.64) were associated with self‐compassion. A two‐way analysis of variance suggested that CM moderated the relationship between self‐compassion and DE in preparation for the baby (η² = 0.11) and the birth plan (η² = 0.11), whereas CP moderated the relationship between self‐compassion and DE in social support (η² = 0.07).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that self‐compassion negatively correlates with DE in maternity hospitals and social support. Additionally, CM may buffer the influence of DE in preparation for the baby and the birth plan on self‐compassion; moreover, CP may buffer the influence of DE in social support on self‐compassion. This study highlights the importance of supporting perinatal women to adapt to COVID‐19‐related changes through cooperation with their families, which may increase self‐compassion.