The experience and meaning of compassion and self-compassion for individuals with depression or anxiety

Exploring the Relationship between Self-Compassion and Psychological Pain: A Canonical Correlation Analysis

This study investigated the association between self-compassion and psychological pain across various demographic variables. Using canonical correlation analysis, we observed an inverse relationship between the combined factors of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP-8). Subgroup analyses revealed differences in SCS subscales among demographic groups with females, individuals with mental health diagnoses, and non-athletes displaying higher scores on negative SCS subscales and PsyPn. Injury status did not significantly affect self-compassion levels, although injured individuals scored higher on the irreversibility subscale of PsyPn. Negative SCS factors exhibited larger group differences and stronger correlations with PsyPn, indicating the potency of negative thinking in influencing psychological pain. These findings underscore the importance of self-compassion in mental health and suggest potential implications for intervention strategies.

Longitudinal associations between capacity to be alone, life satisfaction, self-compassion, anxiety, and depression among Chinese college students

Although the world has entered the post-pandemic period, the mental health and life satisfaction of college students still need to be addressed. However, previous literature has primarily focused on negative variables and has paid little attention to positive variables, such as self-compassion and the capacity to be alone. Therefore, this longitudinal study aims to investigate the relationships between the capacity to be alone, self-compassion, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety among college students. This study analyzed data from 1460 Chinese college students who completed an online survey at two time-points one year apart. We employed cross-lagged analysis and constructed longitudinal mediation models to explore the relationships between five variables (i.e., capacity to be alone, self-compassion, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety). Our findings indicate that depression and life satisfaction could negatively predict each other over time. Self-compassion in wave 1 could negatively predict depression and anxiety in wave 2. Higher life satisfaction in wave 1 was associated with a lower capacity to be alone in wave 2. We also found reciprocal positive predictive relationships between depression and anxiety, and life satisfaction and self-compassion. Life satisfaction mediated the relationship between self-compassion and psychopathological variables (i.e., depression and anxiety). Additionally, self-compassion mediated the association between life satisfaction and psychopathological variables and the association between capacity to be alone and psychopathological variables. Our study highlights the significance of early identification and intervention in depression and anxiety. We also discovered the possible self-soothing function of self-compassion as well as the importance of fostering positive personal characteristics.

A parental burnout modelling based on perfectionism mediated through self-compassion in parents of students suffering from specific learning behavioral disorder

The association between parental burnout and perfectionism, and whether and to what extent it is mediated by self-compassion, in case of mothers of children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) were rarely investigated in the related literature. To fill the gap felt, the present study aimed at providing a model for self-compassion, parental burnout, and perfectionism. The participants were 305 mothers of children with SLD, from Hamedan province, Iran, who had been referred to the relevant treatment centers between 2020 and 2021. Selected through convenience sampling, they took part in the study by completing three questionnaires, i.e., Parental Burnout Assessment (Roskam et al., 2018), Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt & Flett, 1991), and Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003). To fit the model, structural equation modelling was conducted in Amos v24 software. It was found that self-compassion mediates the negative relationship between parental burnout and perfectionism. It can be concluded that women during motherhood become emotionally vulnerable and are susceptible to face psychological challenges and such challenges can be exacerbated in the case of mothers of children with SLD or other learning disabilities.

Trajectories of complex posttraumatic stress symptoms among Chinese college students with childhood adversities: The role of self-compassion

BACKGROUND

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is associated with severe impairments in psychosocial functions, but related longitudinal research is limited. To promote the mental health of college students with childhood adversities, it is imperative to investigate the development of CPTSD symptoms and the predictive factors.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to examine the latent trajectories of CPTSD symptoms among college students with childhood adversities and to identify the role of self-compassion in differentiating potential trajectories.

METHODS

A total of 294 college students with childhood adversities completed self-report questionnaires on demographic backgrounds, childhood adversities, CPTSD symptoms, and self-compassion three times with an interval of three months. Latent class growth analysis was used to determine the trajectories of CPTSD symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine the association between self-compassion and trajectories subgroups while adjusting for demographic variables.

RESULTS

Three heterogeneous groups of CPTSD symptoms among college students with childhood adversities were identified: the low-symptoms group (n = 123, 41.8 %), the moderate-symptoms group (n = 108, 36.7 %), and the high-risk group (n = 63, 21.4 %). Multinomial logistic regression showed that, after adjusting for demographic variables, students with higher levels of self-compassion were less likely to belong to the moderate-symptoms and high-risk group in comparison to the low-symptoms group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the trajectories of CPTSD symptoms of college students with childhood adversities were heterogeneous. Self-compassion was a protective factor against the development of CPTSD symptoms. The present study provided insights into the mental health promotion for individuals with adversities.

Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Infertility is a prominent problem affecting millions of couples worldwide. Recently, there has been a hightened emphasis on elucidating the subtle linkages between infertility treatment leveraging assisted reproductive technology and the complex realm of psychological challenges, as well as efforts in implementation of psychological interventions.The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program seeks to improve self-compassion, compassion for others, mindfulness, and life satisfaction while reducing depression, anxiety, and stress. In the current study, an MSC intervention was performed on infertile women (IW) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing psychological distress and psychopathological symptoms and enhancing life expectancy.

METHODS

Fifty-seven IW undergoing IVF were randomly allocated to two groups: MSC (n = 29) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 28). Participants in MSC met once a week for two hours for eight weeks and attended a half-day meditation retreat. The Synder's Hope questionnaire and the Revised 90-Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) were used as the primary outcome measures. Data were obtained before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and two months post-intervention. Repeated measures of ANCOVA and paired t-tests in all assessment points were used to compare the MSC and the TAU groups in outcomes.

RESULTS

In the MSC group, hopelessness, anger-hostility, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity difficulties, and depression were significantly reduced compared with the TAU group, and those improvements persisted at the two-month follow-up. Reliable change index revealed that the MSC group's gains were both clinically significant and durable.

CONCLUSIONS

MSC can facilitate higher life satisfaction and mental well-being for IW undergoing IVF by reducing psychological distress, psychopathological symptoms, and hopelessness. These encouraging findings call for more research into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies in addressing psychological problems among IW undergoing IVF.

Writing to your past-self can make you feel better

Self-compassionate writing has been shown to be helpful for improving the mental state in some individuals. Here, we investigated how the writer's attitude toward his/her past, present and future and the focus of the writing, i.e., social experience in the past versus self-experience, modulate these effects. In Experiment 1, 150 undergraduates wrote a compassionate letter to their past-self and to their future-self and responded to the Japanese version of the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) questionnaire. Writing to past-self decreased negative feelings more than writing to future-self. Further, participants who had negative feelings toward their past, present, and future, as assessed by the ATI-TA, were more likely to be emotionally affected by writing a letter to their past-self. In Experiment 2, 31 undergraduates wrote a letter focusing on what they had experienced together with someone, and another 31 undergraduates wrote focusing on what they had experienced alone. Focusing on a social experience was more helpful for recovering from negative feelings than focusing on a self-experience. In conclusion, writing a compassionate letter to one's past-self can improve mood, especially in individuals with a negative time attitude who focus their writing on a social connection.

When depressed-be mindful of and kind to yourself: Self-compassion as mediator of change in a mindful depression treatment

Self-compassion as an outcome and potential mediator in mindfulness-based interventions has gained increased attention in the last years. However, most mediation studies had several methodological shortcomings which precluded robust conclusions regarding its mediating role. This randomized controlled study aimed to address these issues by assessing self-compassion, as proposed mediator and outcome, in a temporal sequence.

Eighty-one patients with current depression and work-related conflicts were randomly assigned to either an eight-week mindfulness-based day hospital treatment (MDT-DH; n = 47; including psychopharmacological treatment if necessary) or a waitlist control condition including a psychopharmacological consultation (PCC; n = 34). The outcome, depression severity, was assessed before, at mid-treatment and after the treatment while the proposed mediator, self-compassion, was measured at two week-intervals from before treatment until directly after treatment. Within-person and between-person mediation effects were analysed using multilevel structural equation modelling.

The results from the mediation models show that self-compassion (as a general factor) and two of its components (mindfulness of personal suffering and common humanity) increased and mediated the change in depressive symptoms over time.

This study provides preliminary support for self-compassion as a mediator of treatment effects on depression in a mindful depression treatment.

The development of the revised COPE 68 inventory with English and Slovak versions

Introduction

Although there have been several attempts at improving the COPE Inventory, the factor structure of the instrument is still in dispute. In addition, studies have shown low reliability coefficients for some of the first-order factors, with Mental Disengagement having the lowest factor loadings. In a recent study on the external validation of the instrument, two additional first-order factors were identified in the qualitative analysis, namely Self-care and Care for Others.

Methods

Based on these arguments we created the Revised COPE 68 Inventory, changing some of the problematic items in the first order factor Mental Disengagement and adding items for the two new factors (Self-care and Care for Others). We then tested its reliability and performed factor analyses on the first and second-order factorial structure. The data were collected through social media in two languages, English and Slovak, using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The English sample contained 834 participants with mean age 25.27  years (SD = 8.467) and the Slovak sample comprised 1,425 participants with mean age 33 years (SD = 14.59). For the statistical analyses we used Exploratory Structural Equation Model (ESEM) analyses with target rotation and WLSMV, Exploratory and second-order confirmatory factor analysis with the scores of the COPE Inventory and EFA.

Results

The Revised COPE 68 inventory had a good fit for all 17 first-order factors in both languages, including for the new factors Self-care and Care for Others. It appears that the first-order factors form a three-factor solution in both samples, consisting of active coping, social-emotional coping and avoidant coping. The revised Mental Disengagement has better psychometric properties as well.

Discussion

The Revised COPE 68 inventory was found to be a reliable multidimensional instrument for measuring various coping strategies in both the English and Slovak language versions.

The Temporal Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Loneliness: The Moderating Role of Self-Compassion

Loneliness and depression are significant mental health challenges among college students; however, the intricate relationship between these phenomena remains unclear, particularly in the context of self-compassion. In this comprehensive study, we employ a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis to investigate the symptom-level association between depression and loneliness while exploring the potential moderating influence of self-compassion. Our sample consisted of 2785 college students, who were categorized into high- and low-self-compassion groups based on scores from the Self-Compassion Scale. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, while the UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 measured loneliness expressions. Our findings indicate that self-compassion plays a crucial role in the relationship between depression and loneliness. Specifically, we observed distinctive patterns within the high and low-self-compassion groups. In the low-self-compassion group, "energy" emerged as the most influential symptom, whereas "motor function" exhibited the highest influence in the high-self-compassion group. Furthermore, among individuals with high self-compassion, the pathway from depression to loneliness was characterized by "guilt-being alone when desired," while the reverse path from loneliness to depression encompassed "left out-feeling sad" and "left out-anhedonia." Conversely, in the low-self-compassion group, depression and loneliness demonstrated a more intricate mutual triggering relationship, suggesting that self-compassion effectively moderates the association between these variables. This study provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms driving the interplay between depression and loneliness, shedding light on the pivotal role of self-compassion in this intricate dynamic.

Defining compassion: A Delphi study of compassion therapists' experiences when introducing patients to the term 'compassion'

OBJECTIVES

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is shown to be an effective psychological intervention; however, patients can experience resistance to CFT due to preconceptions regarding the term 'compassion'. This study aims to obtain guidance from therapists in how to overcome these resistances DESIGN: This is the first study using the Delphi methodology to ask CFT therapists about how their patients understanding of the term compassion might act as a barrier to engaging with an otherwise beneficial therapy.

METHODS

Two rounds of interview questions were posed to 15 expert CFT therapists.

RESULTS

The results provide verification that there is resistance to CFT due to preconceptions around 'compassion', specifically its association with 'pity', 'weakness' and low-rank social positions. Further, this appears to be pronounced in patients who value competitiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

The results have practical implications such as the need for therapists to acknowledge the potential for resistance and the need for experiential strategies and illustrative examples of compassion to facilitate successful engagement with CFT.

Never underestimate fears, blocks, and resistances: The interplay between experiential practices, self-conscious emotions, and the therapeutic relationship in compassion focused therapy

Experiential practices are a core component of compassion focused therapy (CFT). Throughout the treatment process, the client's engagement with these practices may become blocked, resulting in a rupture in the therapeutic relationship. In these instances, the interplay between these experiential practices and the therapeutic relationship becomes an essential focus of therapy to repair the rupture, re-engage the client in the therapeutic process, and proceed with the CFT treatment plan. This paper presents the case of a man diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, with the presence of shame-based self-criticism, treated via 12 sessions of CFT. CFT was proceeding well until certain embodiment practices and chair work were introduced, at which point the client refused to continue and became disengaged in the session. The process of repair and re-engagement will be discussed from the perspective of this interplay between experiential exercises and therapeutic relationships. Implications for CFT practice and clinical recommendations will be provided.

Self‐compassion and savouring buffer the impact of the first year of the COVID‐19 on PhD students' mental health

Doctoral students face many challenges that were reinforced by COVID-19-related lockdowns. We assessed this impact over 1 year on doctoral students' depression, anxiety, stress, well-being, and doctoral engagement. We also investigated the potential protective role of self-compassion and savouring on mental health, well-being, and doctoral engagement. A total of 134 PhD students from several French universities responded to the three-time points of this longitudinal study. The results showed a significant increase in depression, anxiety and stress and a significant decrease in well-being and doctoral engagement during the first year of the pandemic. Self-compassion and savouring predicted lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher levels of well-being over time. Savouring alone predicted higher doctoral engagement over time. This study reveals the significant impact of the pandemic year on the mental health of doctoral students, and the relevance of self-compassion and savouring as psychological resources to cope with adversity.

Yoga and nonsuicidal self-injury: Mediational effects of self-compassion and body appreciation

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent maladaptive body-focused behavior among youth and young adults. Yoga is associated with improved mindfulness, body image, and self-compassion; all of which are associated with decreased NSSI. This study evaluated the relationship between yoga and NSSI frequency, and if the relationship would be mediated by mindfulness, self-compassion, and/or body appreciation. Participants were recruited from a random sample of university students via email and included those with some yoga experience (N = 384; M_age = 19.98, SD = 2.20). Participants completed an anonymous online survey assessing their levels of yoga participation, NSSI, mindfulness, self-compassion, and body appreciation. Bias corrected serial mediation regression models indicated the relationship between yoga participation and NSSI frequency was significantly mediated by self-compassion followed by body appreciation. Body appreciation was also a significant single mediator of yoga's relationship with NSSI. Mindfulness was not a significant mediator in any of the analyzes. Yoga practice is associated with reduced NSSI behaviors through its positive relationships with body appreciation and self-compassion. Body appreciation appears to be an important mechanism underlying the link between yoga participation and NSSI behavior suggesting that interventions promoting positive body image, such as yoga, could be innovative strategies for clinicians to consider.

Self-forgiveness, self-compassion and psychological health: A qualitative exploration of change during compassion focused therapy groups

PURPOSE

Little research exists into the relationships between self-forgiveness, self-compassion, affect and psychological health, and are only just beginning to be explored within the self-compassion and the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) literature.

METHODS

This qualitative study (n = 31) utilised Thematic Analysis (TA) to understand participants' experiences of participating in a 12-week compassion-focused therapy group.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis yielded two major themes: 'becoming self-compassionate and self-forgiving', and 'the CFT group was beneficial'. The first major theme reflected participants' growing familiarity, awareness and insight into their inhibitions to and the benefits of self-compassion and self-forgiveness, their capacities for self-condemnation, becoming appropriately responsible for their thoughts and actions, and the links between self-compassion and the process of self-forgiveness. The second major theme reflected participants' impressions that taking part in the CFT group and developing CFT skills had facilitated personal change through taking compassionate ownership for their thoughts and feelings about themselves and their mistakes, rather than condemning themselves and others. Participants reported that these changes helped to regulate their negative affect through the development of more compassionate and balanced thinking about their mistakes, leading to improvements in psychological health.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide explanations of the processes of change in CFT in relation to self-forgiveness, affect and psychological health and contribute to the theory and practice of CFT especially as practiced within a group format.

Qualitative Analysis of Chair Tasks in Emotion-Focused Therapy Video Sessions

One of the key elements of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is decreasing self-criticism as a secondary, maladaptive emotion within two-chair interventions while simultaneously increasing self-compassion and self-protection as primary, adaptive emotions. Though the concepts of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism are highly acknowledged within psychotherapy research, the verbal articulation of these constructs within therapy sessions is underinvestigated. Thus, this qualitative study aims to examine how self-criticism, self-protection, and self-compassion are articulated by clients in EFT video sessions. Consensual qualitative research was used for data analysis performed by two core team members and one auditor. Three similar domains were considered for all three concepts: behavioural, emotional, and cognitive aspects. The number of self-protection statements was the highest among the states. The behavioural aspect was the most dominant domain for self-protection with the major subdomain 'I tell you what I need'. For self-compassion, the cognitive aspect was the most significant domain containing eight subdomains, such as 'I see your bad circumstances'. The most frequent domain for self-criticism was the behavioural aspect consisting of the two subdomains 'I point out your wrong behaviours and I give you instructions'. The findings demonstrate the significance of promoting both self-compassion and self-protection to combat self-criticism. More studies of categorising a broader number of cases among various therapy approaches are necessary to develop a more detailed understanding of clients' verbalisation of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism within therapy.

Using social cognition models to understand why people, such as perfectionists, struggle to respond with self-compassion

Responding with self-compassion to lapses in goal pursuit helps people to achieve their goals, yet evidence suggests that some people struggle to respond with self-compassion. The current research proposes that social cognition models such the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Prototype Willingness Model could explain why some people, such as those high in perfectionistic concerns, struggle to respond with self-compassion. We therefore conducted a pre-registered prospective study that measured participants' beliefs about self-compassion, difficulties enacting self-compassionate responding, perfectionistic concerns, and then tested their ability to be self-compassionate in response to a recalled and future lapse. The results showed that participants were less likely to respond with self-compassion to lapses if they held negative beliefs about self-compassion and experienced difficulties enacting self-compassion. Participants high in perfectionistic concerns were more likely to have negative beliefs about self-compassion and experience difficulties enacting self-compassion. Together, these findings provide evidence that social cognition models can be used to understand self-compassionate responding and identify why some people struggle to respond with self-compassion to goal lapses.

Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress to Psychopathologies among Japanese Workers

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.

Experiences of Barriers to Self-Compassion in Women Experiencing Weight Difficulties: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

There is currently little understanding of why some individuals find it difficult to engage in self-compassion (SC), defined as a form of self-kindness, self-acceptance, and courage to face one’s distress. This is especially true for women experiencing weight difficulties, despite the emergence of promising results from compassion-focused approaches to weight management. Consequently, this study undertakes a qualitative study to explore the experiences of barriers to self-compassion in women who were actively trying to manage their weight, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). A qualitative study was employed using an interpretive approach. Using purposive sampling, 10 women were recruited from London-based weight loss groups. Three super-ordinate themes emerged: (I) feeling unable to prioritise own needs over others’ needs; (II) having to learn and sustain a new approach to weight loss; and (III) having very high standards. The emergent themes suggest that women who face weight difficulties have numerous barriers to self-compassion. To fully utilise compassionate-based weight loss interventions for women, it is important to recognise these barriers and implement strategies to lessen their impact.

Compassion Focused Group Therapy for People With a Diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder: A Feasibility Study

Background

Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is an evolutionary informed, biopsychosocial approach to mental health problems and therapy. It suggests that evolved motives (e.g., for caring, cooperating, competing) are major sources for the organisation of psychophysiological processes which underpin mental health problems. Hence, evolved motives can be targets for psychotherapy. People with certain types of depression are psychophysiologically orientated towards social competition and concerned with social status and social rank. These can give rise to down rank-focused forms of social comparison, sense of inferiority, worthlessness, lowered confidence, submissive behaviour, shame proneness and self-criticism. People with bipolar disorders also experience elevated aspects of competitiveness and up rank status evaluation. These shift processing to a sense of superiority, elevated confidence, energised behaviour, positive affect and social dominance. This is the first study to explore the feasibility of a 12 module CFT group, tailored to helping people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder understand the impact of evolved competitive, status-regulating motivation on their mental states and the value of cultivating caring and compassion motives and their psychophysiological regulators.

Methods

Six participants with a history of bipolar disorder took part in a CFT group consisting of 12 modules (over 25 sessions) as co-collaborators to explore their personal experiences of CFT and potential processes of change. Assessment of change was measured via self-report, heart rate variability (HRV) and focus groups over three time points.

Results

Although changes in self-report scales between participants and across time were uneven, four of the six participants consistently showed improvements across the majority of self-report measures. Heart rate variability measures revealed significant improvement over the course of the therapy. Qualitative data from three focus groups revealed participants found CFT gave them helpful insight into: how evolution has given rise to a number of difficult problems for emotion regulation (called tricky brain) which is not one's fault; an evolutionary understanding of the nature of bipolar disorders; development of a compassionate mind and practices of compassion focused visualisations, styles of thinking and behaviours; addressing issues of self-criticism; and building a sense of a compassionate identity as a means of coping with life difficulties. These impacted their emotional regulation and social relationships.

Conclusion

Although small, the study provides evidence of feasibility, acceptability and engagement with CFT. Focus group analysis revealed that participants were able to switch from competitive focused to compassion focused processing with consequent improvements in mental states and social behaviour. Participants indicated a journey over time from 'intellectually' understanding the process of building a compassionate mind to experiencing a more embodied sense of compassion that had significant impacts on their orientation to (and working with) the psychophysiological processes of bipolar disorder.

"Today I Can Look in the Mirror and Like Myself": Effects of a Trauma-Informed Mindful Recovery Program on Self-Compassion

Background

Opioid-related deaths continue to rise. Psychological trauma is commonly comorbid with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Adverse childhood experiences can disrupt the development of emotion regulation, increasing risk of substance use. Self-compassion may reduce OUD risk and outcomes by facilitating emotion regulation, decreasing the toxicity of shame, and reducing internalized stigma that can hinder recovery. Mindfulness practice enhances self-compassion.

Methods

This study is part of a pilot (N = 18) of the Mindful Recovery OUD Care Continuum (M-ROCC) during buprenorphine office-based opioid treatment (OBOT). The present study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the intervention’s effects on self-compassion development, and to explore differential changes in self-compassion during the intervention among participants with varying intensity of trauma exposure measured by high levels of childhood adversity (defined by 4+ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at baseline). We conducted secondary analyses of a subset of qualitative interview data (N = 11 unique participants) collected for the pilot study (weeks 4 and 24, 14 total interviews) to elaborate upon changes in Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF) scores.

Results

In the primary pilot study, participants’ mean SCS-SF scores shifted significantly from baseline to week 24, β = 0.22, p = 0.028. This change is elaborated upon through interviews. Despite pervasive challenges to becoming more self-compassionate (e.g., trauma histories and substance use), participants reported increased compassionate self-responding and decreased uncompassionate self-responding. Mindfulness training was identified as the primary mechanism underlying the shift. Kindness to self and others and—to a lesser extent an increased sense of common humanity—were also identified as key to overall self-compassion. Compared to those in the lower ACEs group, participants in the higher ACEs group tended to have lower baseline self-compassion scores (d = 1.09, p = 0.055).

Conclusion

M-ROCC may increase self-compassion among patients with OUD during OBOT by increasing compassionate, and decreasing uncompassionate, self-responding. Patients with OUD with greater childhood adversity tended to have lower levels of self-compassion, which improved with M-ROCC. Future trials with larger samples are needed to confirm these potential outcomes, mechanisms, and differential impacts between ACEs subgroups.

The effects of loving-kindness and compassion meditation on life satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) was a promising intervention for improving life satisfaction, but previous findings have been inconsistent. The current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis, including 23 empirical studies on LKCM with life satisfaction as an outcome variable. The primary meta-analysis indicated that LKCM significantly enhanced life satisfaction in pre-post design (g = 0.312, k = 15, n = 451), but the significance disappeared in the additional meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (g = 0.106, k = 6, n = 404). Moderator analyses found significant effects for type of control (i.e., the effects of LKCM were inferior to active control group, but superior to waitlist condition), but not for other moderators (i.e., participant type, previous meditation experience, specific protocol, components of LKCM, combination with mindfulness mediation, and intervention length). Narrative review identified self-compassion and positive emotions as important mediators. The practice time of LKCM had indirect but not direct association with life satisfaction. The findings supported that LKCM is promising in increasing life satisfaction, but more studies are needed to investigate the effects with more rigorous designs. Future studies should investigate other potential mechanisms and clarify whether LKCM change the reality or the perception of life.

Self-Compassion and Mental Health in Sexual and Gender Minority People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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.

Self-compassion and mindful parenting among postpartum mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of depressive and anxious symptoms

Self-compassion is an important psychological skill that may facilitate the adoption of a mindful way of parenting, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the association between these constructs may be explained by several variables, such as maternal psychopathological symptoms, with a well-established interference in parenting. This study aimed to compare mothers who experienced and mothers who did not experience a negative emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-compassion, mindful parenting, postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) and postpartum anxious symptoms (PPAS). We also explored whether mothers' self-compassion was associated with mindful parenting and whether this relationship may be mediated by PPDS and PPAS. A sample of 977 Portuguese mothers of infants aged between zero and six months completed an online survey between December 2020 and January 2021, a period of major pandemic-related restrictions. The survey included several self-report questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic, clinical, and COVID-19 information, self-compassion, mindful parenting, PPDS and PPAS. Mothers who reported having felt that the pandemic had a negative emotional impact during their postpartum period (79.5%) presented lower levels of self-compassion and mindful parenting, and higher levels of PPDS and PPAS. Regarding the mediation model, higher levels of self-compassion were related to higher levels of mindful parenting, and this association was mediated by lower levels of PPAS. These results highlight the relevance of mothers' self-compassion for helping them feel less anxious and to adopt a mindful way of parenting in the postpartum period, particularly during the pandemic. Compassion-based interventions may be particularly important in reducing PPAS and promoting mindful parenting and should be available to postpartum mothers, especially during, but also beyond the pandemic.

Planning and designing a self-compassion intervention for family carers of people living with dementia: a person-based and co-design approach

Background

This article describes the research activities undertaken to plan and design a self-compassion intervention for family carers of people living with dementia using a person-based and co-design approach. In providing this example, our aim is two-fold: to highlight the value of using qualitative research and co-design processes within intervention development; and to showcase systematic reporting of an intervention’s early planning and design stages.

Methods

A person-based and co-design approach informed the planning and design of the self-compassion intervention. In Stage 1, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 14 family carers of people living with dementia and 14 professional stakeholders. In Stage 2, intervention guiding principles were developed, psychological theory was incorporated, and six family carers of people living with dementia were engaged as co-designers.

Results

Knowledge generated during intervention planning identified that the intervention should be situated within the concept of compassion more broadly; address misperceptions, fears, blocks, and resistances to self-compassion; and target feelings of shame, guilt, and self-criticism. Subsequent intervention design activities determined that the needs of family carers of people living with dementia were best met by tailoring an existing intervention, namely group-based Compassion-Focused Therapy.

Conclusions

Our systematic approach highlights the value of incorporating in-depth qualitative research and co-design within the intervention development process to prioritise the perspectives and lived experiences of family carers of people living with dementia. The planning and design process outlined provides insight that is applicable to the development of our intervention and complex health interventions within gerontology and beyond.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-02754-9.

Experiences of Self-Criticism and Self-Compassion in People Diagnosed With Cancer: A Multimethod Qualitative Study

Objective: Self-criticism is a self-condemning and self-compassion a supportive style of self-to-self relating. These concepts have increasingly been studied in people with cancer, but mainly with quantitative studies. This study is the first to explore how adult cancer patients experience self-criticism and self-compassion in the context of their illness. Design: A multimethod qualitative study design was used, combining individual and group semi-structured interviews. Participants were 26 people with cancer who familiarized themselves with the topic by doing various self-compassion exercises for 2 weeks prior to the interview. Individual and group interviews were analyzed together using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes regarding self-criticism were identified: (1) being harsh or strict with yourself, (2) feeling guilty or angry, (3) feeling useless or like a burden, (4) feeling ashamed and not wanting to show weakness. Six themes regarding self-compassion were identified: (1) being mild to yourself, (2) guarding your boundaries, (3) accepting the illness and limitations, (4) maintaining a positive perspective, (5) connecting to others, and (6) taking responsibility for your health. Conclusion: Our findings offer insights into practical and daily life experiences of self-criticism and self-compassion of people with cancer, which can aid the further development of theory, scales and interventions.

Adaptation of the Fears of Compassion Scale into Turkish: a reliability and validity study

BACKGROUND

The concept of fear of compassion draws the interest of researchers in both clinical and scientific fields. The Fears of Compassion Scale (FCS) was developed in order to examine the fear of compassion for others, compassion from others and compassion for one's self. This study aims to adapt the FCS into the Turkish language. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale were used to assess the criterion-related validity of the FCS.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

In order to determine the construct validity of the scale, validity and reliability studies and factor analysis were carried out on 681 participants (Mage = 32.00, SD = 10.15; 64% female and 36% male).

RESULTS

The results of the confirmatory factor analysis yielded the expected 3-factor solution (the fear of compassion for others, the fear of compassion from others and the fear of self-compassion), which consists of 35 items. The internal consistency validity coefficient of the whole scale was .92. Moreover, there were significant negative relationships between the Fears of Compassion Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and Self-Compassion Scale, which are similar to those of the original scale.

CONCLUSIONS

These significant findings reveal the Turkish adaptation of the FCS to be a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Self-compassion and emotional regulation as predictors of social anxiety

OBJECTIVES

Self-compassion and emotional regulation have been identified as constructive attitudes towards the self which can reduce emotional distress. This study is the first to examine the role of a self-compassionate attitude towards the self in reducing symptoms of social anxiety. The study also explored the role of emotional regulation strategies of cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES) as mechanisms that mediate the impact of self-compassion on social anxiety.

DESIGN

Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted on cross-sectional correlational data with MPlus version 6.

METHODS

A sample of 750 undergraduate students (378 men and 372 women) completed an online survey comprised of well validated self-report measures of social anxiety, emotional regulation and self-compassion.

RESULTS

Structural equation modelling showed that self-compassion predicted lower social anxiety directly and indirectly through lower ES. Higher self-compassion also predicted higher CR. Contrary to expectation, CR did not predict lower social anxiety. Exploratory analyses of self-compassion divided into Compassionate Self-responding (CSR) and Refraining from Non-compassionate Responding (RUSR) identified RUSR as a predictor of lower social anxiety directly and indirectly via ES and CR. CSR had no direct effect on social anxiety but did so indirectly via CR.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide preliminary evidence that self-compassion can play an important role in alleviating social anxiety and that emotion regulation through ES and CR are important mechanisms of that influence.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Adopting a more compassionate attitude towards the self can reduce the symptoms of social anxiety Emotional regulation through reducing emotional suppression may be a mechanism whereby higher levels of self-compassion reduce symptoms of social anxiety. Although higher levels of self-compassion predict greater use of emotional regulation through cognitive appraisal, cognitive appraisal does not predict levels of symptoms of social anxiety The capacity to refrain from non-compassionate self-responding may reduce symptoms of social anxiety directly and indirectly through lower levels of emotional suppression and greater cognitive reappraisal (CR). However, compassionate self-responding only influences symptoms of social anxiety through CR.

The relative benefits of nonattachment to self and self-compassion for psychological distress and psychological well-being for those with and without symptoms of depression

OBJECTIVES

Self-compassion represents a way of interacting with the self involving kindness and a balanced approach to negative self-related stimuli that has shown to contribute to reduced depression, anxiety and stress, and increased psychological well-being. Due to the potential barriers towards self-compassion for people with depressive symptoms, the objective of the present study what to investigate whether the emerging construct of 'nonattachment to self', which reflects a flexible and balanced approach to all self-related stimuli, may be more beneficial for positive psychological outcomes than self-compassion, for individuals with depressive symptoms.

METHOD

A sample 388 participants (consisting of 71 men, 317 women) aged from 18 to 77 (M = 35.33, SD = 10.81) completed an online questionnaire measuring levels of self-compassion, nonattachment to self, depressive symptoms, and well-being.

RESULTS

Higher levels of both nonattachment to self and self-compassion were related to reduced psychological distress and increased psychological well-being. However, for people with at least mild depressive symptoms, nonattachment to self was found to be a stronger predictor of reduced psychological distress and increased psychological well-being than self-compassion.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the present study suggests both nonattachment to self and self-compassion are associated with better mental health in non-clinical populations. Further, for individuals experiencing at least mild symptoms of depression, self-compassion may be less beneficial than taking a more nonattached stance towards the self. The findings have implications for the way we conceptualize self-focused attention and suggest assisting individuals to let go of their fixated, self-focused attention may be especially beneficial for individuals with depressive symptoms.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

The notion of letting of attachment to the separate static self lies at the core of Buddhist psychological teachings and recent research suggests it can have a positive impact on individuals psychological well-being and ill-being Given the barriers to self-compassion experienced by individuals with depressive symptoms, nonattachment to self may represent a healthy interaction with the self than is met with less resistance than self-compassion. Due to the balanced stance of nonattachment to self towards positive and negative self-related stimuli, it may be prove to be a valuable approach to treating individuals who feel conflict with taking any form of positive or kind stance towards the self.

Fear of compassion is associated with treatment ambivalence and negative expectations for treatment in people with anxiety

OBJECTIVES

Fears of compassion are hypothesized to be associated with treatment attitudes, but this relationship has not yet been explored.

METHODS

Measures of fear of compassion and treatment expectations and ambivalence were administered to those with above-average anxiety (N = 302) and those who met criteria for an anxiety or related disorder (N = 40).

RESULTS

In those with anxiety disorders, fear of receiving compassion and fear of self-compassion were strongly correlated with treatment ambivalence. In both samples, higher fear of receiving compassion was associated with more negative expectations for treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Fear of compassion is associated with treatment ambivalence and treatment expectations and may be an important target early in treatment.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Fears of receiving compassion and self-compassion were related to treatment ambivalence and negative treatment expectations There may be benefit in targeting fear of compassion early in treatment.

Experiences and perspectives of self-compassion from young adult children of parents with mental illness

INTRODUCTION

In adolescents and young adults, self-compassion has been positively associated with wellbeing and negatively associated with psychological distress. One population of youth who may draw particular benefit from self-compassion are those who have parents with mental illness. This qualitative study explored the perspectives and experiences of self-compassion among a group of young adult children of parents with mental illness.

METHODS

A purposive sample of ten Australian emerging adults aged 18-25 years (3 men, 6 women and 1 non-binary person) participated in individual semi-structured telephone interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine and interpret participants' experiences and perspectives of self-compassion.

RESULTS

Participants described self-compassion as personally relevant and beneficial, although difficult to engage in. Some participants had learnt about, and actively practiced self-compassion, and offered advice for others. Conversely, others described self-compassion as difficult to practice and outlined barriers to self-compassion, from society and family life. Although participants identified common negative social conceptions of self-compassion, they articulated how self-compassion could be valuable for those who have parents with mental illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate the perceived importance of self-compassion along with barriers and facilitators of self-compassion for young adults who have parents with a mental illness. Implications for clinical practice and suggestions for future research are presented.

Changes in the Semantic Construction of Compassion after the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) in Women Breast Cancer Survivors

The growing body of research on compassion has demonstrated its benefits for healthcare and wellbeing. However, there is no clear agreement about a definition for compassion, given the novelty of the research on this construct and its religious roots. The aim of this study is to analyze the mental semantic construction of compassion in Spanish-speaking women breast cancer survivors, and the effects of the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) on the modification of this definition, compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU), at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Participants were 56 women breast cancer survivors from a randomized clinical trial. The Osgood's Semantic Differential categories (evaluative, potency, and activity scales) were adapted to assess the semantic construction of compassion. At baseline, participants had an undefined idea about compassion. The CBCT influenced subjects' semantic construction of what it means to be compassionate. Findings could lead to future investigations and compassion programs that adapt to a specific culture or population.

Effects of Self-Compassion Training on Work-Related Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Self-compassion, sharing some commonalities with positive psychology 2.0 approaches, is associated with better mental health outcomes in diverse populations, including workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is heightened awareness of the importance of self-care for fostering mental health at work. However, evidence regarding the applications of self-compassion interventions in work-related contexts has not been systematically reviewed to date. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the utility of self-compassion interventions targeting work-related well-being, as well as assess the methodological quality of relevant studies. Eligible articles were identified from research databases including ProQuest, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The quality of non-randomized trials and randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Quality Assessment Table, respectively. The literature search yielded 3,387 titles from which ten studies met the inclusion criteria. All ten studies reported promising effects of self-compassion training for work-related well-being. The methodological quality of these studies was medium. All ten studies recruited workers in a caring field and were mostly conducted in Western countries. The Self-Compassion Scale or its short-form was used in almost all instances. Findings indicate that self-compassion training can improve self-compassion and other work-related well-being outcomes in working populations. However, in general, there is need for greater methodological quality in work-related self-compassion intervention studies to advance understanding regarding the applications and limitations of this technique in work contexts. Furthermore, future studies should focus on a broader range of employee groups, including non-caring professions as well as individuals working in non-Western countries.

Factorial Structure and Construct Validity of an Iranian Version of the Fear of Compassion Scale: A Study in Nurses

Backgrounds:

Fear of compassion is one of the psychological variables in the nursing profession that can be a barrier to providing appropriate services to patients. This research was done in order to assess psychometric properties, construct validity, reliability of fear of compassion scales and to introduce suitable measures for experts and researchers in the healthcare-related fields.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, 216 nurses (117 males and 99 females) were chosen with a multistage cluster sampling method between June 2016 and Feb 2017. Lisrel-8 and SSPS-18 were used for data analysis. The construct validity of the fear of compassion scales was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. To assess the divergent and convergent validity of the fear of compassion scales, the compassion for others, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaires were used.

Results:

The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the single-factor model of fear of compassion scales (for others, from others, and for self) is a better fit to the data. Furthermore, these three scales had a positive and significant correlation with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and unhealthy cognitive-emotion regulation strategies, and negative and significant correlation with compassion for others and healthy cognitive-emotion regulation strategies. In addition, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for fear of expressing compassion to others was 0.85, and 0.95 and 0.96 for fear of responding to compassion from others and fear of self-compassion, respectively.

Conclusions:

This study provides additional evidence for the psychometric properties of fear of compassion scales in Iranian nurses.

Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy

The concept, benefits and recommendations for the cultivation of compassion have been recognized in the contemplative traditions for thousands of years. In the last 30 years or so, the study of compassion has revealed it to have major physiological and psychological effects influencing well-being, addressing mental health difficulties, and promoting prosocial behavior. This paper outlines an evolution informed biopsychosocial, multicomponent model to caring behavior and its derivative "compassion" that underpins newer approaches to psychotherapy. The paper explores the origins of caring motives and the nature and biopsychosocial functions of caring-attachment behavior. These include providing a secure base (sources of protection, validation, encouragement and guidance) and safe haven (source of soothing and comfort) for offspring along with physiological regulating functions, which are also central for compassion focused therapy. Second, it suggests that it is the way recent human cognitive competencies give rise to different types of "mind awareness" and "knowing intentionality" that transform basic caring motives into potentials for compassion. While we can care for our gardens and treasured objects, the concept of compassion is only used for sentient beings who can "suffer." As psychotherapy addresses mental suffering, cultivating the motives and competencies of compassion to self and others can be a central focus for psychotherapy.

Integrating CBT and CFT within a case formulation approach to reduce depression and anxiety in an older adult with a complex mental and physical health history: a single case study

Depression and anxiety are major contributors to growing healthcare costs in the UK, particularly with an increasingly ageing population. However, identification of mental health needs in older adults has been overshadowed by a tendency to focus on physical health issues, despite the established co-morbidity of depression, anxiety and physical health conditions. When older adults seek psychological support, treatment options may vary and may be time limited, either because of protocol guidance or due to the resource constraints of psychology services. Time-limited treatment, common in many adult services, may not best meet the needs of older adults, whose physical, cognitive and emotional needs alter with age. It is, therefore, important to identify treatments that best meet the needs of older adults who seek psychological support, but who may arrive with complex mental and physical health histories. This paper aims to explore how a case formulation-driven approach that draws on the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and compassion-focused therapy (CFT) can be used to reduce anxiety and depression in an older adult with a complex multi-morbid mental and physical health history. This study employs a single-case (A–B) experimental design [assessment (A), CBT and CFT intervention (B)] over 28 sessions. Results suggest the greatest reductions in depression and anxiety (as measured using PHQ-9 and GAD-7) occurred during the CFT phase of the intervention, although scores failed to drop below subclinical levels in any phase of the intervention. This case highlights the value of incorporating CFT with CBT in case formulation-driven interventions.

Key learning aims

(1)

Ways of Knowing Compassion: How Do We Come to Know, Understand, and Measure Compassion When We See It?

Over the last decade, empirical research on compassion has burgeoned in the biomedical, clinical, translational, and foundational sciences. Increasingly sophisticated understandings and measures of compassion continue to emerge from the abundance of multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary studies. Naturally, the diversity of research methods and theoretical frameworks employed presents a significant challenge to consensus and synthesis of this knowledge. To bring the empirical findings of separate and sometimes siloed disciplines into conversation with one another requires an examination of their disparate assumptions about what compassion is and how it can be known. Here, we present an integrated theoretical review of methodologies used in the empirical study of compassion. Our goal is to highlight the distinguishing features of each of these ways of knowing compassion, as well as the strengths and limitations of applying them to specific research questions. We hope this will provide useful tools for selecting methods that are tailored to explicit objectives (methods matching), taking advantage of methodological complementarity across disciplines (methods mixing), and incorporating the empirical study of compassion into fields in which it may be missing.

Soothe ourselves in times of need: A qualitative exploration of how the feeling of 'soothe' is understood and experienced in everyday life

OBJECTIVES

Evidence suggests that self-compassion is linked to psychological benefits. Compassion-focused therapy emphasizes the importance of developing abilities to self-soothe in alleviating psychological distress. However, little is known about how the feeling of soothe is understood, experienced, and achieved in everyday life. This study addressed two research questions: (1) How is the feeling of soothe understood? (2) How is the feeling of soothe experienced in everyday life?

DESIGN

This is part of our ongoing research Project Soothe (www.projectsoothe.com), which collects soothing images from the public with the goal to develop a bank of soothing images for psychotherapeutic and research use. We also set up an online survey to explore how individuals understand and experience the feeling of soothe in everyday lives. The current study was based on the qualitative narratives obtained in this survey.

METHODS

A total of 176 participants were recruited. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged in response to the first research question: (1) a complex interconnected state of feelings, (2) self-soothe and being soothed, and (3) involvement of physical sensations. Five themes emerged regarding the second research question: (1) venturing out in nature, (2) being in a familiar surrounding, (3) being solitary, (4) being affiliated, and (5) being physically and mentally relaxed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study illustrated the importance of affiliations, physical sensations, mindfulness, connection with nature, and solitude on the cultivation of soothe. Results may help develop therapeutic techniques in enhancing self-soothe by tapping into individuals' understanding and subjective experience in everyday contexts.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Compassion-focused therapy and related third wave therapies emphasize the role of cultivating self-compassion and feelings of self-soothe in reducing psychological distress and improving mental well-being. This study sheds light on how individuals understand and achieve self-soothe in everyday life contexts. Individuals' subjective narratives suggested that both being in solitude and affiliated with others were associated with feelings of self-soothe, in addition to feeling connected with the nature, being in familiar environments and experiencing physical sensations. These findings will help practitioners develop different ways to enhance individuals' self-compassion by tapping into their understanding and experience of self-soothe in everyday life.

Attachment and compassion-threat: Influence of a secure attachment-prime

OBJECTIVES

The present paper proposed and tested a methodology for reducing individual's threat response to compassion-imagery, by increasing their levels of state attachment-security.

DESIGN

A total of 68 University students (63% female, mean age = 25) completed an experimental study, where they were randomly assigned to either a 10-min attachment-prime (to enhance attachment-security) or an interpersonal skills module (control condition).

METHODS

Participants completed a compassion-focused imagery exercise before and after the manipulation, to determine the effects of the attachment-prime. To measure the effects of the manipulation on individual's threat response, heart rate variability data were collected at baseline and during both compassion exercises.

RESULTS

As predicted, individuals who reported higher levels of anxious and avoidant attachment styles were more likely to display a threat response (decreases in heart rate variability), to the first compassion-focused imagery. After receiving an attachment-prime, heart rate variability increased suggesting that individual's experienced greater self-soothing responses and decreased threat responses to the second compassion-focused imagery.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that individuals with insecure attachments are likely to require additional support increasing their attachment-security, before they can successfully engage in compassion-based exercises or therapies.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Compassion-based exercises may result in fear and consequently avoidance in some populations of individuals. Threat responses to compassion can be reduced by using attachment-based techniques. Research findings will help inform and broaden the clinical applicability of compassion-based therapies.

Self-Compassion in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Analysis

Emerging quantitative research found self-compassion to be a unique predictor of parental stress in parents of children with ASD above other predictors. However, research on the lived experience of self-compassion in families of children with ASD is limited. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, 19 mothers of children with ASD with a mean age of 39.19 years (SD = 3.56, Range = 31.00-50.00 years) were interviewed about their lived experiences of stress and self-compassion. Themes derived from interviews include: the impact and causes of stress, benefits of self-compassion, barriers to self-compassion, and aids to self-compassion. The findings deepen our understanding of the experience of self-compassion in this population. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Efficacy and acceptability of a pilot dietary intervention focusing on self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring

OBJECTIVE

Overweight and obesity are universal health challenges. Recent evidence emphasises the potential benefits of addressing psychological factors associated with obesity in dietary programmes. This pilot study investigated the efficacy and acceptability of a combined online and face-to-face dietary intervention that used self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to improve dietary behaviour, as well as psychological factors associated with dietary behaviour.

DESIGN

Embedded mixed methods including a 4-week before-after trial and a one-on-one interview. Quantitative outcomes of the study were the levels of self-compassion; eating pathology; depression, anxiety and stress; and dietary intake. Qualitative outcomes were participants' perceptions about the acceptability of the intervention.

SETTING

UNSW Kensington campus.

PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen participants with overweight and obesity aged between 18 and 55 years old.

RESULTS

Results showed that the intervention significantly improved self-compassion and some aspects of dietary intake (e.g. decrease in energy intake) at Week Four compared with Week Zero. Some aspects of eating pathology also significantly decreased (e.g. Eating Concern). However, changes in self-compassion over the 4 weeks did not significantly predict Week Four study outcomes, except for level of stress. Most participants found self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to be essential for dietary behaviour change. However, participants also indicated that an online programme needed to be efficient, simple and interactive.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the current study provides preliminary but promising findings of an effective and acceptable combined online and face-to-face intervention that used self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to improve dietary habits. However, the results need to be examined in future long-term randomised controlled trials.

The influence of self-compassion on perceived responsibility and shame following acquired brain injury

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of perceived personal responsibility for an acquired ABI (ABI) on shame, and whether self-compassion moderates this relationship. We hypothesized that people who perceived themselves to be responsible for their injury would have high levels of shame and poorer recovery outcomes.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A mixed-methods design was employed using both standardized measures and a series of open questions.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

66 participants with ABI were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, multiple regression, and thematic analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Significant relationships were found between self-compassion, shame, anxiety, and depression, but perceived responsibility for ABI was not correlated with any examined variables. Due to issues with the measurement of responsibility, it was not possible to complete all proposed forms of analysis. The thematic analysis revealed the ways participants' injuries affected their perceived level of functioning, its consequences for sense of self, shame, and self-compassion.

CONCLUSIONS

This study concluded that people with ABI might experience shame with respect to the injury's impact on functioning. Study limitations and implications for providing therapeutic interventions such as Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are discussed.

Compassion-focused therapy for trauma in people with intellectual disabilities: A conceptual review

Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder are more prevalent in people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) than in the general population, yet the evidence base for trauma interventions in this population is sparse. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be particularly well-suited to PWID for a number of reasons, including its adaptability to different developmental levels. PWID are more likely to have issues with self-relating (e.g. shame and self-criticism) and attachment than the general population, two issues that are compounded by trauma and which CFT explicitly seeks to address. Furthermore, compassion-focused approaches emphasize cultivating a sense of safeness while empowering people to make behavioural changes; this is particularly pertinent to PWID who have been traumatized and may feel unsafe and disempowered. An overview of CFT and its application to trauma are given, as well as some case studies using CFT with PWID.