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Exploring Self-Compassion and Empathy in the Context of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

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Abstract

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programmes have demonstrated beneficial outcomes in a variety of populations. Self-compassion and empathy have theoretical connections to mindfulness, the key element of the MBSR programme; however, previous studies examining the programme's impact on self-compassion or empathy have demonstrated mixed results. This study examined the impact of MBSR on self-compassion and empathy, as well as on mindfulness, symptoms of stress, mood disturbance and spirituality in a community sample. Significant reductions in symptoms of stress and mood disturbance, as well as increases in mindfulness, spirituality and self-compassion were observed after programme participation. With regards to empathy, a significant increase was seen in perspective taking and a significant decrease in personal distress; no significant change was observed for empathic concern. Changes in self-compassion were predicted by changes in mindfulness. Self-compassion and aspects of empathy revealed strong associations with psychological functioning. Implications of MBSR as an intervention for enhancing self-compassion and empathy are discussed. Copyright

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... One of the main differences is overall well-being. Ultimately, self-compassion promotes selfworth and is healthier than increased self-esteem (Neff, 2011;Neff & Vonk, 2008); and empathy, while a positive trait, is about feeling for another and stops short of acting on those feelings (Birnie et al., 2010;Shuck et al., 2019;Trzeciak & Mazzarelli, 2019). ...
... Yet while empathy is necessary for us to have meaningful relationships with others (Hanson, 2009), it is not synonymous with compassion, despite the two constructs continually being connected in literature about compassionate practices such as in healthcare. Complicating this further, self-compassion and empathy are both theoretically connected with mindfulness but no common or operational definition of empathy in psychological literature exists (Birnie et al., 2010). In a study exploring mindfulness-based stress reduction, empathy, and self-compassion, Birnie et al. (2010) posited that compassion can be explained as the affect and subsequent action taken in response to the cognitive experience of empathy, clarifying that compassion goes beyond the feeling for another's distress and involves taking intentional measures to alleviate that distress. ...
... Complicating this further, self-compassion and empathy are both theoretically connected with mindfulness but no common or operational definition of empathy in psychological literature exists (Birnie et al., 2010). In a study exploring mindfulness-based stress reduction, empathy, and self-compassion, Birnie et al. (2010) posited that compassion can be explained as the affect and subsequent action taken in response to the cognitive experience of empathy, clarifying that compassion goes beyond the feeling for another's distress and involves taking intentional measures to alleviate that distress. ...
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Creating and maintaining a culture of compassionate-focused healthcare stems from nurturing providers’ self-compassion set forth by their self-compassionate clinical instructors. In higher education, instructor self-compassion is not a priority. Intentional self-kindness, interconnected with the universality of human suffering, is the wellspring for compassionate care and makes it possible. Educator self-compassion should then be an essential component of teachers’ instructional methods and adult learner-centered frameworks – known as pedagogy and andragogy, respectively – to prepare future nurses and healthcare professionals for field entry, and advanced and specialized direct-care roles. Therefore, this doctoral research employed an experimental design with intervention and control group to better understand clinical educator self-compassion. Data from three distributions of the 26-item Self-Compassion Scale across two independent groups were analyzed using the Mann Whitney U test. It was hypothesized that the workshop-as-intervention participants would demonstrate increased self-compassion levels after seven-days after the workshop and sustain these levels when retested 30-days post-baseline testing. It was also hypothesized the experimental group’s post-intervention levels would be significantly higher than non-intervention workshop subjects. While the experimental group did maintain levels between days seven and 30, the other hypotheses were not supported by statistical testing. The most meaningful finding was that the workshop-as-intervention group demonstrated statistically significant & moderately lower measurements in over-identification 30 days after their initial pre-workshop tests, the most common negative component rated by both groups in baseline testing. In the future this study will be replicated for further use and wider impact.
... Neff (2003) defines self-compassion as a threecomponent construct involving self-kindness versus selfjudgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification (Janbozorgi et al., 2020). Findings suggest that individuals with high selfcompassion experience a delayed onset of breast cancer and lower levels of arousal (Birnie, 2010;Wasylkiw, 2012). Therefore, self-compassion could provide a necessary foundation for psychological status changes in these individuals. ...
... Self-compassion is defined as dealing with suffering, harm, and self-helping attitudes towards alleviating one's own difficulties (Wren, 2012). High selfcompassion is associated with psychological well-being and protects against stress by accepting vulnerable feelings, selfcare, and kindness, understanding non-judgmental attitudes towards one's deficiencies and failures, and recognizing common human experiences (Birnie, 2010). Women with breast cancer often face significant body dissatisfaction (Sherman, 2018), and those with high self-compassion have the least concern about their body image and the highest body satisfaction (Wasylkiw, 2012). ...
... The results demonstrated that mindfulness training significantly increased self-compassion in women with breast cancer, such that the mean self-compassion in the experimental group significantly increased compared to the control group. Thus, this study's findings align with the prior research (Birnie, 2010;Boellinghaus, 2014;Brown, 2003;Carlson, 2007;Carlson, 2004;Evans, 2018;Gonzalez-Hernandez, 2018;Lengacher, 2019;Sanada, 2017;Small, 2017;Witek-Janusek, 2008;Würtzen & Flyger, 2015). To explain this finding, it can be argued that self-compassion is defined as how one deals with suffering, harm, and a sense of helping oneself to solve one's own problems (Wren, 2012). ...
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Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of mindfulness training on experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and certain physiological indices in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Method: This applied research was conducted as a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and control group design. The population included all women with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer who were under medical care after completing chemotherapy or radiotherapy at Shahid Tajrish Hospital in 2020-2021. A convenience sampling method was used to select 40 female breast cancer patients, who were equally divided into an experimental group (20 participants) and a control group (20 participants). Data were collected using the Neff's Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), the Bond et al.'s Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (2011), and physiological indices. Mindfulness training, based on the protocol by Lengacher et al. (2019), consisted of 8 sessions of 90 minutes each for the experimental group, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis. Findings: The results indicated that mindfulness training significantly increased self-compassion (F = 6.35, p < .05) and decreased experiential avoidance (F = 4.75, p < .05) in women with breast cancer. Additionally, the training significantly reduced cortisol levels (F = 7.38, p < .05), but did not have a significant effect on the concentrations of IL-6 (F = 0.83, p > .05) and CRP (F = 0.04, p > .05). Conclusion: Considering the current findings, it can be said that mindfulness training is effective in improving the psychological condition and reducing stress in women with breast cancer.
... Empathy is impaired in various mental disorders. Mindfulness interventions and social cognition training can enhance empathy over the course of weeks (Birnie et al., 2010;Lam et al., 2011;Mascaro et al., 2013;Mazza et al., 2010;Russell et al., 2006;Russell et al., 2008). To determine if this effect may also occur within shorter periods, we examined the acute impact of (a) a brief mindfulness exercise, and (b) basic facial emotion recognition (FER) training on empathic accuracy (EA). ...
... Psychological interventions can improve empathy over time (Birnie et al., 2010;Lam et al., 2011;Mascaro et al., 2013). However, few studies have examined their immediate effects. ...
... Mindfulness interventions can increase empathy (Lam et al., 2011). One potential mechanism of this effect is increased awareness of one's internal physical state (Birnie et al., 2010;Fischer et al., 2017;Sauer-Zavala et al., 2013;Shapiro et al., 1998). This interoceptive awareness is often trained by means of body-scan exercises. ...
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Background and Objectives: Empathic accuracy, i.e., the degree to which one is able to accurately infer the emotions of others, may be acutely malleable. We examined this idea by testing the immediate effect of a brief mindfulness intervention or facial emotion recognition training. Methods: Participants were English- or Dutch-speaking psychology students who were assigned to one of three brief intervention conditions (all instructions given in English): (1) verbal instructions for practicing awareness of their body (mindfulness, n = 23); (2) verbal and visual instructions regarding the detection of visual cues for anger, fear, sadness, and happiness (facial emotion recognition training, n = 23); or (3) a verbal, neutral didactic lecture on mindfulness (control, n = 23). Subsequently, participants completed a Dutch-language empathic accuracy task. Results: There was no significant overall difference in empathic accuracy between the three participant subgroups, suggesting no effect of the two target interventions. Nonetheless, even though empathic accuracy appeared unaltered by facial emotion recognition training among participants who understood Dutch well, it was better after this intervention than after the control intervention among participants with a relatively limited understanding of Dutch. Limitations: The study used a small convenience sample. The control condition was listening to a lecture on mindfulness. Empathic accuracy was not assessed at baseline. Moreover, we did not formally assess language understanding, as we did not predict its presumed impact a priori. Conclusions: A better study design is needed to find out whether facial emotion recognition training can help improve empathic accuracy when the understanding of verbal cues is limited.
... From previous studies in university student groups (Agastya, 2023), medical students, psychology students (Baer et al., 2012;Birnie et al., 2010;de Vibe, 2014;Shapiro et al., 2007), trainee therapists (Shapiro et al., 2007), and nursing students (Ratanasiripong et al., 2015), it was found that mindfulness-based therapy is effective in developing the well-being of university students, medical students, psychology students, trainee therapists, and nursing students. It also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, consistent with the research of Cohen and Miller (2009), who found that six weeks of mindfulness-based therapy reduced stress and anxiety in graduate students majoring in counseling and clinical psychology in the United States. ...
... Furthermore, mindfulness practice leads to increased mindfulness and enhanced self-compassion (Baer et al., 2012;Birnie et al., 2010;de Vibe, 2014;Shapiro et al., 2007). Research among medical professionals has found that healthcare providers who show compassion for patients, or compassion for others, also tend to develop self-compassion. ...
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This study assessed the impact of mindfulness-based group therapy and counseling on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, stress, happiness, self-compassion, and compassion for others among clinical psychology students. A quasi-experimental design was employed involving fourth-year undergraduate students in a clinical psychology program at a university in northeastern Thailand. Fourteen participants were purposefully selected based on slightly elevated stress levels and received therapy and counseling utilizing mindfulness techniques. Data collected through various assessment tools revealed that immediately after the intervention and three months later, participants demonstrated significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, happiness, self-compassion, and compassion for others compared to pre-intervention levels. Moreover, stress levels significantly decreased post-intervention and remained lower three months later. These findings suggest that incorporating mindfulness-based therapy and counseling can effectively enhance emotional well-being and mitigate stress among clinical psychology students.
... Recent research has highlighted the benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion in mitigating the adverse effects of Compassion Fatigue and enhancing Empathic Concern. Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental present-moment awareness, has been shown to increase empathy and decrease burnout among professionals (Birnie et al., 2010). Mindfulness-based interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), have been effective in cultivating empathy and compassion, thereby improving professional quality of life (Block-Lerner et al., 2007). ...
... For instance, Chapman (2021) found that dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion can enhance self-oriented empathy and reduce Compassion Fatigue among counsellors (Chapman, 2021). Incorporating mindfulness-based interventions could therefore be beneficial in fostering empathic concern while protecting against emotional exhaustion (Birnie et al., 2010). ...
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The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between Empathic Concern, Compassion Fatigue, and Positive Affect among professionals in caregiving roles. Specifically, it aimed to identify key predictors of empathic behavior and their impact on professional quality of life. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 250 participants selected through stratified random sampling from various professional backgrounds. Data were collected using validated instruments: the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) for Empathic Concern, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) for Compassion Fatigue, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) for Positive Affect. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-27, including Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis to explore the relationships between the variables. Descriptive statistics revealed that participants had a mean Empathic Concern score of 4.35 (SD = 0.67), a mean Compassion Fatigue score of 3.12 (SD = 0.89), and a mean Positive Affect score of 3.87 (SD = 0.75). Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between Compassion Fatigue and Empathic Concern (r = -0.42, p = 0.001), and a significant positive correlation between Positive Affect and Empathic Concern (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that Compassion Fatigue (B = -0.28, SE = 0.05, β = -0.34, t = -5.60, p = 0.001) and Positive Affect (B = 0.47, SE = 0.07, β = 0.52, t = 7.03, p < 0.001) significantly predicted Empathic Concern, accounting for 37% of the variance (R² = 0.37, F(2, 247) = 58.76, p < 0.001). The study concluded that Positive Affect significantly enhances Empathic Concern, while Compassion Fatigue reduces it. These findings suggest the importance of fostering Positive Affect and mitigating Compassion Fatigue among professionals to maintain high levels of empathy. Interventions such as mindfulness and self-compassion training may be beneficial in achieving these goals.
... As such, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn established the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979, which has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression (Kabat-Zinn, 2013;Shapiro et al., 2005;Stahl & Goldstein, 2010, 2019. Individuals in various studies have evidenced reduced levels of stress and mood disturbances while also reporting increased levels of self-compassion, spirituality, and the ability to take others' perspectives after completing an 8-week MBSR program conducted by healthcare professionals (Birnie et al., 2010;Newsome et al., 2012;Shapiro et al., 2005;Stahl & Goldstein, 2019). Similar mindfulness-based programs have been applied within student populations and have also revealed positive results (Bamber & Kraenzle Schneider, 2016;Felver et al., 2016). ...
... Also, in line with existing research, self-compassion increased with mindfulness (Birnie et al., 2010;Centeno & Fernandez, 2020;Newsome et al., 2012;Shapiro et al., 2005). Neff (2003) claims that self-compassion and mindfulness are highly comparable since they both require distancing oneself from the situation to become more objective. ...
Article
Rising perfectionism levels within post‐secondary students could be one reason for students' challenges with adaptation to post‐secondary. Recent research has suggested mindfulness‐based interventions may be a promising avenue for mitigating high perfectionism, in addition to improving emotional and social well‐being. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of 8 weeks of a mindfulness course on post‐secondary students (compared to a non‐meditating control group). Variables of interest were mindfulness, multidimensional perfectionism (self‐oriented, other‐oriented, and socially prescribed types), stress, anxiety, self‐compassion, and social connectedness. Students self‐enrolled into a mindfulness class offered at a college in Alberta, Canada ( n = 15). The experimental sample, aged 18−54 ( M = 25.27, SD = 11.47), were 96.7% female. A control group was recruited from first‐ and second‐year psychology classes ( n = 30), with ages ranging from 17 to 38 ( M = 21.70, SD = 5.36) and 70% identifying as female. Students completed in‐person surveys near the beginning of the term and again after 8 weeks. ANOVAs and linear regression analyses were conducted. In line with previous studies, results indicated that college students practicing mindfulness evidenced lower perfectionism (self‐oriented and other‐oriented types), stress, and anxiety, along with higher mindfulness and self‐compassion. Additionally, interpersonal benefits were revealed as the mindfulness group increased in social connectedness. Perplexing results suggest two routes to social connection, as the control group also showed an increase in social connection, potentially motivated by higher stress and self‐criticism. Findings from the current study are impressive (given the small sample size and the high‐stress time of the term during which post‐test measures were taken) and suggest that integrating mindfulness practices into the curriculum can enhance emotional and social well‐being for postsecondary students.
... Research has shown that empathy is a multidimensional construct (11), consisting of both cognitive and affective facets (12). Cognitive empathy has been conceptualized as the ability to take over another person's perspective and require an understanding of affect related motives, thoughts and feelings of a person [Birnie et al.,(13)]. In contrast, affective empathy includes the ability to connect with the emotional state of another person (13) and sharing of affective states and feeling of concern for others (11,14). ...
... Cognitive empathy has been conceptualized as the ability to take over another person's perspective and require an understanding of affect related motives, thoughts and feelings of a person [Birnie et al.,(13)]. In contrast, affective empathy includes the ability to connect with the emotional state of another person (13) and sharing of affective states and feeling of concern for others (11,14). A special subset of empathy is sympathy (15). ...
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Objective Although empathy is known to be a strength, recent studies suggest that empathy can be a risk factor for psychopathology under certain conditions in children. This study examines parental mental illness as such a condition. Further, it aims to investigate whether maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) mediates the relationship between empathy and psychopathological symptoms of children. Methods Participants were 100 children of parents with a mental illness (55% female) and 87 children of parents without a mental illness (50% female) aged 6 - 16 years and their parents. Results Greater cognitive empathy was related to more psychopathological symptoms in COPMI, but not in COPWMI. In addition, in COPMI maladaptive ER mediated this relationship. In contrast, greater affective empathy was associated with more psychopathological symptoms regardless of whether parents had a mental illness. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of implementing preventive programs for COPMI that specifically target the reduction of maladaptive ER.
... As such, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn established the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979, which has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression (Kabat-Zinn, 2013;Shapiro et al., 2005;Stahl & Goldstein, 2010, 2019. Individuals in various studies have evidenced reduced levels of stress and mood disturbances while also reporting increased levels of self-compassion, spirituality, and the ability to take others' perspectives after completing an 8-week MBSR program conducted by healthcare professionals (Birnie et al., 2010;Newsome et al., 2012;Shapiro et al., 2005;Stahl & Goldstein, 2019). Similar mindfulness-based programs have been applied within student populations and have also revealed positive results (Bamber & Kraenzle Schneider, 2016;Felver et al., 2016). ...
... Also, in line with existing research, self-compassion increased with mindfulness (Birnie et al., 2010;Centeno & Fernandez, 2020;Newsome et al., 2012;Shapiro et al., 2005). Neff (2003) claims that self-compassion and mindfulness are highly comparable since they both require distancing oneself from the situation to become more objective. ...
... Researchers have identified change of trait mindfulness and self-compassion experienced by the participants during and after the mindfulness training [28][29][30][31], which plays an important role in promoting mental health [32,33]. ...
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Objectives Pursuing a research postgraduate (RPg) degree is a major life event and could be stressful. The current study aims to explore the effectiveness of an online eight-week mindfulness-based intervention on improving wellbeing and alleviating illbeing among a group of RPg students using a randomized waitlist-controlled design. Methods A total of 88 RPg students, either studying in Hong Kong or Macau, were recruited (43 were randomized into the immediate intervention group; 67 females; mean age = 27.7; SD = 4.60). The “Finding Peace in a Frantic World” was adopted as the mindfulness-based program. Linear mixed models were applied to test the effects of the intervention on trait mindfulness, compassion, wellbeing related measures (i.e., subjective wellbeing, resilience, wellbeing literacy) and illbeing related measures (i.e., emotional and sleeping disturbances), while controlling for the effects of age and gender. The intervention group was also assessed at two-month follow-up to evaluate the sustained effects. Results The results revealed that participants from the intervention group showed increased resilience (b = 0.88, p = .012), wellbeing literacy (b = 2.52, p = .04), trait mindfulness (b = 5.16, p = .006), and decreased emotional disturbances (b=-8.24, p = .015), while there were no changes in subjective wellbeing, sleeping quality, and self-compassion or compassion towards others compared to the waitlist controls. Positive effects were sustained after two months in the intervention group. Conclusions This study provides evidence for online mindfulness training in alleviating RPg students’ emotional disturbance and supporting their resilience and wellbeing literacy. Registration The study was retrospectively registered with the ISRCTN Registry on 11/11/2022 (registration number: ISRCTN18262344).
... Both self-compassion and mindfulness appear to complement one another and are suggested to translate into better outcomes for both mental and physical health (e.g., Braun et al., 2012;. For example, previous literature suggested self-compassion amplified the effect of mindfulness training and mediated the relationship between mindfulness and well-being (Birnie et al., 2010;Hollis-Walker & Colosimo, 2011). Researchers have also explored the effect of combining the two psychological constructs (i.e., self-compassion and mindfulness) on health outcomes, and findings have been promising (e.g., Mantzios & Wilson, 2015a;. ...
... This may be related to the core mechanisms of mindfulness. Research indicates that mindfulness training can enhance emotional regulation abilities and reduce excessive arousal and anxiety responses when facing others' difficulties (Birnie et al., 2010;Raugh and Strauss, 2024). In other words, mindfulness practice can help individuals maintain awareness while avoiding emotional overinvolvement (Cho, 2024). ...
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Background Despite growing recognition of dispositional mindfulness (DM) in psychological research, its cross-cultural mechanisms in promoting prosocial behavior remain unclear, particularly regarding the mediating role of different empathy dimensions. Purpose This study investigated how DM influences prosocial behavior across cultural contexts, examining both the mediating effects of different empathy dimensions and the moderating role of cultural background in Chinese and Indonesian samples. Methods Participants included 683 university students (357 Chinese, 326 Indonesian) who completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Self-Report Altruism Scale Distinguished by the Recipient (SRAS-DR). Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro. Results Chinese participants demonstrated higher DM levels than Indonesian participants. In the Chinese sample, both perspective taking (PT) and empathic concern (EC) mediated DM’s effects on prosocial behavior toward family (PBF), friends (PBFr), and strangers (PBS). However, in the Indonesian sample, PT and EC only mediated effects on PBFr. Cultural background significantly moderated DM’s indirect effect on PBS through PT, with stronger effects in the Chinese sample. Fantasy and personal distress showed no significant mediating effects in either cultural context. Conclusion This study reveals that DM enhances prosocial behavior through selective influence on different empathy dimensions, with cultural background moderating specific pathways. These findings extend our understanding of mindfulness’s cross-cultural mechanisms and provide practical implications for culturally-adapted mindfulness interventions.
... Empathy, as an umbrella term, is defined as the ability to understand, experience, and respond to the emotional state of another human being [16,17]. Most researchers consider empathy a multifaceted construct, primarily encompassing cognitive empathy, defined as the ability to understand and consider the emotional states of others, and affective empathy, defined as the ability to share and experience another person's emotions [14,18,19]. ...
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Background Previous studies have shown associations between internalizing and externalizing symptoms, executive functions, and empathy. However, the mechanisms that affect this relationship remain unclear. This study employed regression analysis to explore the relationships between empathy, executive functions, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Method Our study consisted of three consecutive stages. In the first stage, we assessed 2150 adolescents' parents aged 10–12 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to determine which participants should be included in the subsequent stages. In the second stage, we conducted a pilot study with 50 participants to assess the validity of the assessment system and the six film scenes to be used in the following stage. Finally, in the third stage, we obtained 170 participants' state empathy, trait empathy, and executive functioning. Results The regression analysis showed that working memory (β = 0.261) and externalizing symptoms (β = -0.157) predicted cognitive empathy, but only externalizing symptoms predicted affective empathy (β = -0.193). The regression analysis also showed that cognitive empathy (β = -0.513) and affective empathy (β = -0.535) predicted externalizing symptoms, but only inhibition predicted internalizing symptoms (β = 0.158). Conclusion This population-based study highlights the reciprocal effects of externalizing symptoms on cognitive and affective empathy. No significant relationship was found between internalizing symptoms and empathy. This study also highlights the effect of working memory on cognitive empathy. These findings may inform psychological interventions to improve empathic abilities in early adolescence.
... In line with this assumption, proenvironmental behavior is correlated with compassion, which is thought to be related also to prosocial behavior [33][34][35] . Given the evidence that mindfulness training enhances empathy and compassion 36,37 , and that their neural substrates have been shown to be causally linked to proenvironmental 38 and prosocial behavior [39][40][41] , mindfulness training may therefore influence also prosociality and proenvironmental behavior mediated via its effects on compassion. Furthermore, meta-analytical evidence suggests that mindfulness interventions promote prosociality 42 . ...
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Theoretical accounts posit that mindfulness promotes proenvironmental behavior. While this claim is supported by correlational findings, past intervention studies provided no evidence that enhancing mindfulness increases self-report measures of proenvironmental behavior. Here, we tested whether a 31-day mindfulness intervention strengthens preferences for proenvironmental outcomes with decision tasks involving real conflict between participants’ selfish interests and beneficial consequences for the environment. To unravel the psychological mechanisms underlying the impact of mindfulness on proenvironmental behavior, we assessed the impact of mindfulness training on prosociality and future orientation. Contrary to our hypotheses, the mindfulness intervention reduced instead of increased preferences for proenvironmental and prosocial outcomes, whereas no effects were observed on future orientation. Baseline preferences for proenvironmental and prosocial outcomes (and the intervention effects on them) were correlated, providing empirical evidence for a link between proenvironmental behavior and prosociality. Together, the current data suggest that the relationship between mindfulness and proenvironmental behavior as well as prosociality may be more complicated than assumed in the literature. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-79137-0.
... Guided mindfulness meditation, some easy yoga exercises, and body scan exercises are held within the sessions; one allows time to be directed toward breathing, sensations in the body, thoughts, and emotions without judgment [33,34]. Supplementing these sessions, participants are asked to commit to daily mindfulness practice at home, but the recommended duration is approximately 45 min of formal meditation per day [35,36]. One of the central components of MBSR is the cultivation of a mindful attitude characterized by openness, curiosity, and acceptance of the present moment-whatever the experience is-whether pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. ...
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Background and Objectives: Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in ancient traditions, enhance mental well-being by cultivating awareness and emotional control. It has been shown to induce neuroplasticity, increase cortical thickness, reduce amygdala reactivity, and improve brain connectivity and neurotransmitter levels, leading to improved emotional regulation, cognitive function, and stress resilience. This systematic review will synthesize research on neurobiological changes associated with mindfulness and meditation practices. Materials and Methods: Studies were identified from an online search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases without any search time range. This review has been registered on Open OSF (n) GV2JY. Results: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) enhances brain regions related to emotional processing and sensory perception, improves psychological outcomes like anxiety and depression, and exhibits unique mechanisms of pain reduction compared to placebo. Conclusions: This review highlights that mindfulness, particularly through MBSR, improves emotional regulation and brain structure, reduces anxiety, and enhances stress resilience. Future research should focus on diverse populations and naturalistic settings to better understand and optimize these benefits.
... Therefore, staying in the present moment can assist in calming the mind and emotions, which makes it easier to provide treatment for anxious patients without getting emotional contagion (Beddoe et al., 2004). As a result, those who work in this field and practice mindfulness are better able to be conscious and, in the moment, which allows them to see and understand others' experiences from a sympathetic angle and encourages critical assessment (Birnie et al., 2010). ...
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This conceptual paper explores the integration of mindfulness principles into the development of transportation services for people with disabilities (PWDs) in Malaysia. Transportation plays a critical role in promoting inclusivity and enhancing the quality of life for PWDs, yet accessibility remains a significant challenge due to infrastructural barriers, lack of awareness, and limited empathy from service providers. Drawing on the concepts of mindfulness, which are rooted in awareness, empathy, and responsiveness, this paper proposes a framework that emphasizes inclusivity, respect, and collaboration among key stakeholders. The proposed framework emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that incorporates physical accessibility, staff training, and policy reforms. Inclusivity involves modifying infrastructure to meet universal design standards, while empathy requires transport providers to understand the unique challenges faced by PWDs and offer compassionate, tailored services. Responsiveness, a key element of mindfulness, calls for flexible and adaptive transport services that cater to the real-time needs of PWDs, ensuring that they can access public transportation with ease and dignity. By applying this mindful approach, the transportation system can become more accommodating and respectful toward PWDs, thereby reducing social exclusion and improving their mobility. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on disability inclusion and provides actionable strategies for policymakers, transport providers, and disability organizations to work together in creating a more accessible public transportation system. Future research should investigate the practical application of this framework and its potential to drive policy changes that benefit PWDs across Malaysia.
... Some studies suggest that self-compassion promotes resilience and well-being in nursing students, enabling them to cope with the emotional demands of the profession [16]. The inability to be compassionate toward oneself leads to the absence of empathy and compassion for others [17], which is an important aspect in nursing. Studies on nurses and nursing students showed that individuals with high self-compassion are better able to control occupational and environmental stressors [18] and have higher levels of self-efficacy [1,19]. ...
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Objectives Analyze the mediating e moderating roles of self-compassion in the relationship between tutor support and both students’ caring efficacy and intention to leave. Methods A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was conducted. Results Self-compassion mediates the relationship between tutor support and students’ caring efficacy. Tutor support play a role on all the facets of self-compassion, but only two dimensions of this variable (mindfulness vs. over-identification) are significantly associated with both the dimensions of caring self-efficacy, with inverse effects. Self-compassion moderates the relationship between tutor support and intention to leave. Conclusions Tutor support can improve students’ caring efficacy by helping them to be mindful of their experiences in a nonjudgmental way. Supportive tutor can mitigate intention to leave by increasing self-compassion ability. Implications for International Audience Nursing education programs should implement workshops and briefings to develop students’ self-compassion ability. This can foster perceived caring efficacy in students and reduce intention to leave.
... We found large effect sizes for both increases in mindfulness and stress (Norouzian and Plonsky, 2018;Richardson, 2011). Studies using the PSS-10 and MAAS to evaluate MBSR showed comparable improvements in degree and effect size (Shapiro et al., 2005;Shapiro et al., 2011;Juul et al., 2018;Jensen et al., 2023;Birnie et al., 2010), although the interpretability of LMM effect sizes across studies is still being debated (Norouzian andPlonsky, 2018, Richardson, 2011). ...
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Background and objective Mindfulness has emerged as key construct in mental health over past decades. While current mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are usually rooted in Asian contemplative traditions, mindfulness practices can equally be found in other knowledge systems, including integrative medicine systems such as anthroposophic medicine (AM). The Activity-Based Stress Release (ABSR) program incorporates the latter as part of an 8-week-long online intervention combining mindfulness exercises, behavioral self-observation, and mindful movement practices derived from this integrative medicine frame. The program could offer additional means for cultivating mindfulness, thereby addressing the necessity for diverse approaches in conjunction with individual differences, diverse clinical demands, or restricted capacities to perform certain mindfulness practices. Using an observational repeated-measures design, the current study aimed to assess a large-scale online implementation of this program in terms of its feasibility, assessing perceived stress and mindfulness. Method Individuals who enrolled in any of the 37 ABSR program iterations carried out during 2023 and agreed to participate in the study completed online surveys including validated stress and mindfulness scales at the beginning, middle, end, and follow up of the intervention. Linear-mixed models were used for data analysis. Results A total of 830 individuals took part in the study, of which 53.5% filled in at least 2 surveys. In line with our expectation, mindfulness scores increased significantly over the course of the intervention, while stress scores decreased significantly in this timeframe. We further found differential effects of self-practice frequency and duration on the outcomes. Conclusion This study provides a first indication of stress reduction in conjunction with the online implementation of this novel MBI. The work further suggests that this AM-based intervention indeed targets mindfulness, as do other MBIs, and that it is adaptable to an online format. However, given the observational single-arm design, controlled studies will be necessary to confirm these results. Nonetheless, the study adds a novel contribution to existent MBIs, which is significant in view of the need for diverse approaches to meet the heterogeneity of individual predispositions and clinical requirements. It remains to established by forthcoming research for which groups of individuals or clinical features this approach could be especially beneficial or less suitable.
... However, conceptual and operational overlaps between mindfulness and self-compassion have been identified [31], in that both require approaching difficulty with acceptance, so that reactivity is reduced. Supporting this suggestion, Birnie et al.'s study [32], which employed a community sample, posited that changes in self-compassion were predicted by changes in mindfulness. Similarly, Baer et al. [33] compared the relative predictive utility of self-compassion and mindfulness for psychological wellbeing and found that self-compassion was almost twice as strong a predictor of wellbeing than mindfulness alone, although both were significant predictors. ...
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(1) Background: The level of stress experienced by staff in the healthcare sector is highly prevalent and well documented. Self-compassion may support the health and wellbeing of individuals and enable them to stay well at work. This study aimed to understand whether a brief, online, self-guided, novel intervention improved the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals. (2) Methods: In a parallel randomised controlled trial, a volunteer sample of healthcare professionals were assigned to an intervention group (n = 110) or a waitlist control group (n = 80). Measures of self-compassion, mental wellbeing, stress and burnout were collected by an online questionnaire at baseline, post-programme and, for the intervention group, at follow-up. (3) Results: This intervention appeared to be effective in increasing self-compassion and mental health and decreasing stress and burnout. Significant group effects and significant time × group interactions for overall self-compassion [F (2, 183) = 32.72, p < 0.001; effect size ηp² = 0.226], mental wellbeing [F (2, 212) = 17.46, p < 0.001; effect size ηp² = 0.135], perceived stress [F (2, 205) = 5.42, p = 0.006; effect size ηp² = 0.46], personal burnout [F (2, 224) = 7.57, p = 0.001; effect size ηp² = 0.063] and work burnout [F (2, 208) = 7.39, p = 0.001; effect size ηp² = 0.062] were found. (4) Conclusions: This study shows promise that an affordable and scalable intervention can be effective for busy healthcare professionals operating in a significantly challenging environment.
... Particular attention was paid to empathy, measured both by self-perception and an EPT. Concerning self-perception of empathy, the MSC group increased perspective-taking and decreased personal distress post-training, consistent with previous research (Birnie et al., 2010;Neff & Pommier, 2013). Such outcomes were expected since cultivating selfcompassion contributes to compassionately approaching others and connecting with their needs, balancing compassion to others with compassion for oneself (Gilbert, 2009;Neff & Germer, 2013;Neff, 2003b;Solomon et al., 2022;Wiklund & Wagner, 2013). ...
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Objectives This study aimed to assess the effects of a virtual Mindful Self-compassion (MSC) intervention on mindfulness and self-compassion, empathy, stress, and well-being in Uruguayan primary school teachers, during COVID-19 times. Method A quasi-experimental, longitudinal study was conducted with an active control intervention that involved practicing Kundalini yoga (KY). Uruguayan volunteer female teachers were randomly assigned to MSC or KY 9-week virtual training. They completed self-reported psychometric tests and an empathy for pain task (EPT) at pre- and post-training, and follow-up (3 months). Results At post-MSC training, mindfulness (observing, non-reactivity, and total mindfulness) and self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, and self-judgment) increased. The empathy dimensions perspective-taking increased and personal distress decreased. Stress decreased and well-being increased. Concerning EPT, the accuracy in attributing intentionality to the harm inflicted, i.e., the intentionality comprehension accuracy, increased. At follow-up, observing and total mindfulness remained elevated, and non-judging increased. Common humanity remained elevated and personal distress remained decreased. Comparing MSC with KY trainings at post-training, the psychometric tests showed that personal distress was lower in the MSC group. At follow-up, observing and total mindfulness were higher in the MSC group. No differences between groups were found for the EPT at post-training and follow-up. Conclusions Virtual MSC training increased mindfulness and self-compassion, associated with higher well-being, reduced stress, and increased empathy in primary school teachers in Uruguay. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.
... Also, mindfulness meditation leads to greater selfcompassion, which is strongly correlated with improved well-being [47]. Individuals who practice mindfulness tend to develop a kinder and more accepting attitude toward themselves, which reduces self-criticism and promotes a more positive perception of life [48]. Cultivating compassion for self and others through lovingkindness meditation shows that also interactions with other people become easier, since this type of meditation enhances prosocial behavior [49,50]. ...
Chapter
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Public servants are experiencing enduring occupational stress. Stress hinders the ability of professionals to process information, potentially leading to bad decisions. Moreover, chronic stress has the potential to develop into a full-blown burnout. (Neuro)scientific findings strongly suggest that meditation can help to cope with stress. This chapter maps out the current scientific insights about how meditation can decrease stress. It argues that an effective meditation practice can help professionals to prepare for and cope with stress on a long-term basis. The chapter concludes with several practical and easy-to-perform meditative exercises that are suited for anyone who wants to learn to help themselves prepare for and deal better with stress.
... Since nursing is a challenging job related to plenty of stressful and tough events [1], the mental health of nurses and nursing students needs additional concern. In combination with previous research and the findings of this study, nursing schools may consider using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to improve the empathy and self-compassion of nursing students [69], protecting their mental health. ...
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Background Nursing students are faced with multiple challenges and have a higher probability of suffering from anxiety. The current study aims to explore the relation between empathy and anxiety, examining the mediation and moderation effects of insomnia and self-compassion, respectively. Methods This study employed a convenient sampling method, recruiting 1,161 nursing students (female = 923, male = 238, Meanage = 18.37, SDage = 2.38) from three universities in China. These students completed the questionnaires online, including General Anxiety Disorder -7 (GAD-7), Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Nursing student (JSPE-NS), Youth Self-rating Insomnia Scale -8 (YSIS-8), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). The study employed latent variable structural equation models to analyze the relation and mechanisms between empathy and anxiety. Then, the mediated role of insomnia and the moderated role of self-compassion were examined. Results The prevalence rates of anxiety and insomnia in the current sample are 18.24% and 26.76%, respectively. The results showed that empathy could negatively predict anxiety, with a significant mediating effect of insomnia between them (B = -0.081, p < 0.05, 95% CI [-0.197, -0.063]). Additionally, it was proven that self-compassion moderated the positive relation between insomnia and anxiety. With a higher level of self-compassion, the indirect effect of empathy on anxiety through insomnia was weaker (B = -0.053, p < 0.01, 95% CI [-0.095, -0.019]). When individuals showed a lower level of self-compassion, the indirect effect of empathy on anxiety through insomnia was stronger (B = -0.144, p < 0.01, 95% CI [-0.255, -0.059]). Conclusion The analysis of this research proved that empathy was negatively related to anxiety, and insomnia served as a mediator between empathy and anxiety. Besides, the protective role of self-compassion on individuals’ mental health was identified. The findings of the study suggest that the education of nursing students should highlight the significance of fostering empathy and self-compassion. The intervention on insomnia may be helpful in reducing the levels of anxiety since insomnia is a risky factor for anxiety.
... Numerous studies indicate that self-compassion may be formed through practical exercises, such as mindfulness training (Neff, 2011). Studies show that the practice of mindfulness may additionally increase other factors of self-compassion (Birnie, Speca, Carlson, 2010), whose development is possible also due to the practice of compassionate reappraisal (see Neff, Germer 2013) or even only a short meditation session (Boellinghaus, Jones, Hutton, 2014;Albertson, Neff, Dill-Shackleford, 2015). Studies by Neff and Germer (2013), who verified the effectivenss of the eight-week self-compassion training, have indicated that participation in the training significantly increases the level of mindfulness and general self-compassion. ...
Article
The aim of the article is to present self-compassion as a resource in the context of performing a parental role and its importance for interactions with a child. The study included an analysis of existing data. A meta-analysis of concepts related to the main variable described in the article and their relationships with parenting was performed. Self-compassion, as a variable conducive to a person’s mental well-being and coping with difficulties, is an important factor that helps in fulfilling parental roles, supporting the child’s development and building a healthy relationship with the child. Source analyzes allowed to show self-compassion as an important resource and a factor supporting coping with negative affect, difficulties, as well as supporting the parent’s psychological functioning. It is an important area of human development and adaptability–also in the role of a parent. Theoretical analyzes presented in this study lead to recommendations for research on the development of self-compassion among parents as a variable supporting their functioning.
... Increases in self-compassion are strongly associated with psychological well-being and decreased distress (Bluth & Blanton, 2015). Selfcompassion and mindfulness have been theorized to have a reciprocal relationship, leading to improved empathy and emotional well-being (Birnie et al., 2010;Bluth & Blanton, 2014). ...
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Objective We tested the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based intervention (bMBI) for emerging adults (EAs) experiencing anxious and depressive symptoms. Specifically, we examined: (1) whether there are improvements in mental health outcomes among participants at post-intervention and in a one-month follow-up, and (2) whether initial health variables predict overall mental health improvement over the intervention. Method Forty-five undergraduate students who were experiencing mood and/or anxiety symptoms participated in a five-session, in-person mindfulness group. Data on anxious symptoms (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire–9), mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale), perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale), and self-compassion (12-item Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form) were collected at baseline, immediately prior to the beginning of the intervention, at the beginning of session three, immediately following the intervention and at one-month follow-up. Results The preliminary analysis indicated that this five-session bMBI for EAs was: (1) effective in decreasing psychological distress and increasing well-being, with improvements continuing at the follow-up; and (2) that pre-bMBI self-compassion moderated anxious, depressive and well-being scores at mid-bMBI, post-bMBI, and one-month follow-up. Discussion The current findings lend support for an effective intervention for EAs and provide direction for increased services and preventative strategies for EAs in post-secondary education. This study is one of the few studies on such therapeutic interventions for mood and anxiety within EA research.
... Self-awareness is an important aspect of emotional intelligence (Boyatzis et al., 2000;Cherniss & Goleman, 2001;Goleman, 1998;Mayer & Salovey, 1997). Mindfulness, a component of self-awareness (Goleman, 1998), has been shown to correlate with stress-reduction (Birnie et al., 2010;Zenner et al., 2014) as well as increased attention and working memory (Jha et al., 2020). By increasing awareness and limiting reactivity, one creates space to choose a skillful response to challenging circumstances and interactions (Germer & Neff, 2018). ...
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Research suggests that developing undergraduates’ emotional intelligence (EI) may improve current academic and future work performance, as well as health and well-being. Curriculum to help undergraduate business management students improve their EI competencies was designed and implemented in a 4-credit course taught over 18 days. During 3-hour class periods, students participated in activities such as mindful walks, journaling, and guided meditations designed to improve self-awareness and self-management competencies. The steps in the Multiple Approaches to Understanding instructional design model are explained and illustrated with the entry points, analogies, and activities of the EI curriculum.
... Different facets of well-being are linked to self-compassion, such as: happiness, encouragement, and optimism . Mindfulness is found to be significantly correlated with self-compassion (Birnie et al., 2010). Self-compassion aids people in general and doctors in specific for overcoming health 5 related issues besides the real life challenges in routine life (Hope et al., 2014). ...
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The aim of the current study was to determine how mental health affects doctors' levels of self-compassion and mindfulness. The sample consisted of 332 doctors, 138 of whom were men and 194 were women. A convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from both the public and private sector hospitals in Islamabad, Sargodha, and Mianwali. Participants had a minimum of an MBBS degree and at least six months of work experience following the completion of their medical degree. The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale (CAMS-R), Self-compassion Scale-Short form (SCS-SF), and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) were employed to operationalize and gauge the research variables. The study concluded that mindfulness is a positive predictor of self-compassion. Furthermore, mental well-being moderated the relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion such that higher level of mental well-being strengthened the existing positive relationship of the two. The study offers useful implications for the doctors with recommendations for doctors to improve their performance through training in self-compassion, mindfulness, and well-being.
... MM is a meditative practice commonly described as paying attention in an open, nonconceptual, and nonjudgmental way, focusing on bodily sensations and mental events with the prospect of cultivating equanimity and awareness [16]. Behavioral and neuroimaging studies showed how MM can shape self and self-other experiences in the cognitive domain, for instance, by intensifying empathy, compassion, and altruism (e.g., [17,18]), reducing self-referential activity [19][20][21][22], and promoting self-other connectedness [23][24][25][26][27][28], providing a promising model for addressing growing public health issues associated with loneliness and isolation [29][30][31]. However, evidence regarding the relationship between mindfulness and the bodily self is much scarcer, with a prevalence of phenomenological studies that reported how mindfulness meditation may alter the perception of the boundaries between the body and the surrounding world [19,24,32]. ...
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Peripersonal space (PPS) is a dynamic multisensory representation of the space around the body, influenced by internal and external sensory information. The malleability of PPS boundaries, as evidenced by their expansion after tool use or modulation through social interactions, positions PPS as a crucial element in understanding the subjective experiences of self and otherness. Building on the existing literature highlighting both the cognitive and bodily effects of mindfulness meditation, this study proposes a novel approach by employing focused-attention meditation (FAM) and a multisensory audio–tactile task to assess PPS in both the extension and sharpness of its boundaries. The research hypothesis posits that FAM, which emphasizes heightened attention to bodily sensations and interoception, may reduce the extension of PPS and make its boundaries less sharp. We enrolled 26 non-meditators who underwent a repeated measure design in which they completed the PPS task before and after a 15-min FAM induction. We found a significant reduction in the sharpness of PPS boundaries but no significant reduction in PPS extension. These results provide novel insights into the immediate effects of FAM on PPS, potentially shedding light on the modulation of self–other representations in both cognitive and bodily domains. Indeed, our findings could have implications for understanding the intricate relationship between mindfulness practices and the subjective experience of self within spatial contexts.
... Self-and-other-compassion warrant consideration within this system, particularly, their potential intersections with mindfulness, need fulfillment, and relationship/sexual outcomes. Growing evidence supports that participation in mindfulness training programs such as MBSR and MBCT increases self-compassion (Birnie et al., 2010;Kuyken et al., 2010;Shapiro et al., 2005Shapiro et al., , 2007. Furthermore, self-compassion is associated with relationship outcomes; such as positive relationship styles. ...
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Interest in mindfulness in the field of romantic relationships is growing. Drawing from a Self-Determination Theory perspective — which proposes that the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are foundational for well-being — we attempted to map out the complex associations between mindfulness, self-compassion, other-compassion, basic need fulfillment in relationships, and increased relationship and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 640 midlife (40-59-year-old) married Canadians was recruited from a national panel. To test the associations at a systems-level, we utilized psychological network analysis based on the premise that the relational and sexual effects of mindfulness are understood as part of a dynamic and multivariate network of associations with other variables. Need fulfillment in relationships (particularly relatedness needs) occupied a central position in the model, connecting mindfulness and self-compassion with relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. The findings underscored the major importance of Self-Determination Theory in relationships, and the overall structure of the network was consistent with growing theories of mindfulness in relationships. Future research employing longitudinal network models will aid in elucidating this system's operation over time.
... Outlier and influence diagnostics were also performed on the analyses of single coping strategies if they contained at least ten studies. Outlying and influential studies were only found for the relations between self-compassion and religious coping (Birnie et al. 2010; Rouse, 2012, Study 1). As for adaptive coping, the sensitivity analysis suggested only a modest effect on the effect size, and therefore the studies that represented outliers were retained for the rest of the analyses (for more information, see Supplementary Materials, Appendix B, Table S 2). ...
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Background: The concept self-compassion (SC), a special way of being compassionate with oneself while dealing with stressful life circumstances, has attracted increasing attention in research over the past two decades. Research has already shown that SC has beneficial effects on affective well-being and other mental health outcomes. However, little is known in which ways SC might facilitate our affective well-being in stressful situations. Hence, a central concern of this dissertation was to focus on the question which underlying processes might influence the link between SC and affective well-being. Two established components in stress processing, which might also play an important role in this context, could be the amount of experienced stress and the way of coping with a stressor. Thus, using a multi-method approach, this dissertation aimed at finding to which extent SC might help to alleviate the experienced stress and promotes the use of more salutary coping, while dealing with stressful circumstances. These processes might ultimately help improve one’s affective well-being. Derived from that, it was hypothesized that more SC is linked to less perceived stress and intensified use of salutary coping responses. Additionally, it was suggested that perceived stress and coping mediate the relation between SC and affective well-being. Method: The research questions were targeted in three single studies and one meta-study. To test my assumptions about the relations of SC and coping in particular, a systematic literature search was conducted resulting in k = 136 samples with an overall sample size of N = 38,913. To integrate the z-transformed Pearson correlation coefficients, random-effects models were calculated. All hypotheses were tested with a three-wave cross-lagged design in two short-term longitudinal online studies assessing SC, perceived stress and coping responses in all waves. The first study explored the assumptions in a student sample (N = 684) with a mean age of 27.91 years over a six-week period, whereas the measurements were implemented in the GESIS Panel (N = 2934) with a mean age of 52.76 years analyzing the hypotheses in a populationbased sample across eight weeks. Finally, an ambulatory assessment study was designed to expand the findings of the longitudinal studies to the intraindividual level. Thus, a sample of 213 participants completed questionnaires of momentary SC, perceived stress, engagement and disengagement coping, and affective well-being on their smartphones three times per day over seven consecutive days. The data was processed using 1-1-1 multilevel mediation analyses. Results: Results of the meta-analysis indicated that higher SC is significantly associated with more use of engagement coping and less use of disengagement coping. Considering the relations between SC and stress processing variables in all three single studies, cross-lagged paths from the longitudinal data, as well as multilevel modeling paths from the ambulatory assessment data indicated a notable relation between all relevant stress variables. As expected, results showed a significant negative relation between SC and perceived stress and disengagement coping, as well as a positive connection with engagement coping responses at the dispositional and intra-individual level. However, considering the mediational hypothesis, the most promising pathway in the link between SC and affective well-being turned out to be perceived stress in all three studies, while effects of the mediational pathways through coping responses were less robust. Conclusion: Thus, a more self-compassionate attitude and higher momentary SC, when needed in specific situations, can help to engage in effective stress processing. Considering the underlying mechanisms in the link between SC and affective well-being, stress perception in particular seemed to be the most promising candidate for enhancing affective well-being at the dispositional and at the intraindividual level. Future research should explore the pathways between SC and affective well-being in specific contexts and samples, and also take into account additional influential factors.
... However, these studies were conducted in a younger adult sample. [70][71][72] Moreover, the increase in self-compassion was seen also at the 6-month follow-up visit, suggesting that the benefits of the mindfulness intervention were embedded by participants in their life. ...
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INTRODUCTION Older adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) have a higher risk of dementia. Reducing this risk through behavioral interventions, which can increase emotional well‐being (mindfulness and compassion) and physical activity, is crucial in SCD. METHODS SCD‐Well is a multicenter, observer‐blind, randomized, controlled, superiority trial. Three hundred forty‐seven participants (mean [standard deviation] age: 72.7 [6.9] years; 64.6% women) were recruited from memory clinics in four European sites to assess the impact of an 8‐week caring mindfulness‐based approach for seniors (CMBAS) and a health self‐management program (HSMP) on mindfulness, self‐compassion, and physical activity. RESULTS CMBAS showed a significant within‐group increase in self‐compassion from baseline to post‐intervention and both a within‐ and between‐group increase to follow‐up visit (24 weeks). HSMP showed a significant within‐ and between‐group increase in physical activity from baseline to post‐intervention and to follow‐up visit. DISCUSSION Non‐pharmacological interventions can differentially promote modifiable factors linked to healthy aging in older adults with SCD.
... This process is reflected in the structure of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and, accordingly, research on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction has reported increases in selfreport self-compassion. [24][25][26][27] Further research also indicates that changes in self-compassion play a significant role in positive outcomes and engagement with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. 13,28 Compassion in mindfulness for health Deriving from the Latin word 'compati', meaning 'to suffer together with', compassion is widely associated with feeling for a person who is suffering and the motivation to alleviate that suffering, 29,30 which has been described as 'an openness to the suffering of others with a commitment to relieve it' in Buddhist philosophy. ...
Article
Purpose of the Study Research indicates that acquiring compassion is an integral part to positive outcomes to Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), yet there is both theoretic and empirical literature suggesting that people with persistent pain are more likely to experience challenges and distress when engaging compassion-based practices. Mindfulness for Health is a standardised MBI for people with persistent pain and health conditions. This study sought to explore the positive, neutral and difficult experiences of compassion-based practice and meditation for participants in Mindfulness for Health to further understand implications and risks for participants of MBI’s. Method and Design A qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied to explore how participants understood of the experience of compassion-based practice and the meaning they gave to it. Eight participants who had completed the Mindfulness for Health from four separate groups were interviewed about their experience. Results Five master themes were identified ‘turning away from self-with-pain’, ‘self-with-pain experienced as shameful’, ‘facilitating change’, ‘turning towards self-with-pain’, and ‘accepting self’. Participants identified both perceived positive changes and difficult emotional experiences during the meditation practice, which they related to the context of compassion in their past and present life. Conclusions Developing compassion is an important part of Mindfulness for Health, which is salient for participants as both a challenging and potentially valuable experience. Acquisition of mindfulness skills, supporting group dynamics and modelling compassion are understood as helpful in overcoming personal barriers and challenging experiences. Further research is needed to understand processes involved and explore the experience of non-completers.
... Through this process, mindfulness aids in counteracting maladaptive thought processes and worrying, thus alleviating anxiety (Van Dam et al., 2014). Through a series of mindfulness practices, it has been reported to relieve physiological and psychological symptoms associated with one's perceived stress, improve the ability to regulate emotions and increase the capacity for empathy and compassion (Birnie et al., 2010). ...
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Aims This study aimed to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions in improving self‐efficacy, reducing stress and anxiety among peritoneal dialysis patients, and (ii) compare the most effective method of mindfulness based interventions. Methods This randomized three‐arm controlled trial recruited first‐time peritoneal dialysis patients from the peritoneal dialysis outpatient clinic in Singapore. Patients were randomly allocated to either video‐assisted mindfulness training, therapist‐assisted mindfulness training or treatment‐as‐usual. All groups received 4.5 days of structured peritoneal dialysis training at the peritoneal dialysis centre, while video‐assisted mindfulness training and therapist‐assisted mindfulness training groups were taught additional mindfulness‐based techniques. The perceived stress scale, self‐efficacy, and anxiety (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory) were measured at baseline, 4‐ and 12 weeks post‐randomization, using reliable and valid instruments. Results Thirty‐nine patients were recruited (13 in each group). All the therapies showed a significant time trend in anxiety. Only therapist‐ and video‐assisted mindfulness training showed a significant trend in perceived stress scale scores but not treatment‐as‐usual. All Intervention X Time interactions were not significant. Patients in therapist‐ and video‐assisted mindfulness training groups had reduced perceived stress scale scores compared to treatment‐as‐usual at week 12. Conclusion This study demonstrated the potential of mindfulness‐based interventions in reducing stress among first‐time PD patients.
... Mindfulness cultivates heightened awareness and presence, encouraging individuals to engage mindfully with the present moment. It promotes empathetic acknowledgment of experiences and encourages a critical examination of personal biases without passing judgment (Birnie et al., 2010). ...
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The primary objective of this study was to explore the inter-connections among mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and intellectual humility in adult’s population. Additionally, the research aimed to investigate the mediating role of mindfulness in this association between cognitive flexibility and intellectual humility with different demographic differences (age, gender, and culture). Sample of 800 students selected from Hazara University, Mansehra (HU), and the University of AJK. The study employed a convenient sampling method. The results indicated a significant association between the study as well as demographics differences exists among study variables. In conclusion, this study contributes to our understanding of the connections between mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and intellectual humility in a student context. The findings suggest that cultivating mindfulness may enhance cognitive flexibility and intellectual humility, with demographic factors playing a role in shaping these psychological attributes. This study has practical implications for enhanced academic performance, effective stress management, improved decision-making, life-long learning, personal well-being, critical thinking skills, adaptability in changing environments and positive interpersonal relationships. Keywords: Mindfulness, Cognitive Flexibility and Intellectual Humility
... Mindfulness has received increasing interest given its recognized positive influence on numerous factors related to couple relationship functioning, including relationship satisfaction. A systematic review from Kozlowski (2013) highlighted positive associations with relationship satisfaction, empathy, intimacy, and partner acceptance (Barnes et al., 2007;Birnie et al., 2010;Jones & Hansen, 2015;Kappen et al., 2018), as well as better conflict management and reduced risks of intimate partner violence (Horst, 2013;Shorey et al., 2014). A first integrative theoretical model was proposed by Karremans et al. (2017) to shed light on the interpersonal processes at play. ...
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Objectives Childhood cumulative trauma (CCT) has consistently been associated with relationship dissatisfaction in adulthood. Early parenthood is a challenging context where partners’ vulnerabilities, such as CCT history, tend to be exacerbated and further decrease relationship satisfaction. However, dyadic studies are lacking and the mechanisms that underlie this association in coparents remain unclear. An increasing body of literature supports dispositional mindfulness as an explanatory mechanism of this relationship, as it was negatively linked to CCT and associated with higher relationship satisfaction. Experiential avoidance, a maladaptive self-regulatory strategy commonly used by CCT survivors, looks promising in explaining how coparents’ lower mindfulness brings about relational dissatisfaction. Empirical literature highlights mindfulness as a predictor of experiential avoidance, which in turn is associated with relationship dissatisfaction. Using a dyadic perspective, this longitudinal study aimed to assess whether associations between CCT and relationship satisfaction were serially mediated by mindfulness and experiential avoidance in couples following the birth of a child. Method A randomly selected sample of 529 parental couples completed self-report questionnaires at two time points, 6 months apart. Path analyses based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model were performed. Results Path analyses showed a significant serial mediation from CCT to relationship satisfaction, sequentially through lower mindfulness and higher experiential avoidance, while accounting for relationship satisfaction at Time 1. Significant structural paths and indirect effects confirmed partners’ interinfluences. Conclusions Findings suggest that mindfulness and experiential avoidance are key factors to explore in parental couples facing relationship issues associated with childhood trauma. Preregistration This study was not preregistered.
... A beginner's mind stance also encourages self-compassion, which may further support one's acceptance of not knowing or a more compassionate stance toward making mistakes. Selfcompassion has been identified as an attribute or quality that extends from mindful awareness of one's own experience, fostered by the attitudes of nonjudgment and acceptance (Birnie et al., 2010;Neff et al., 2005). Neff et al. (2005) posited self-compassion as helpful in times of suffering or failure as it adopts an emotional stance of kindness and connectedness rather than criticism and isolation. ...
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Clinical training can represent a time of great uncertainty for trainee psychologists. Existing research has identified a relationship between low tolerance of uncertainty and a range of negative physiological and psychological reactions, as well as an increased potential for burnout. We developed a mindfulness program to support trainees in their clinical training and proposed that increased mindfulness and self-compassion would support an increase in the tolerance of uncertainty experienced by trainees. Postgraduate psychology students who completed the 6-week mindfulness program as part of the curriculum were invited to participate in the study. Pre- and postintervention measures regarding mindfulness, self-compassion, and tolerance of uncertainty were completed (n = 98). Significant increases in the mindfulness facets of nonjudging, nonreacting, and observing as well as self-compassion were found, while a significant decrease in Uncertainty Reluctance to Disclose and Uncertainty Stress was also noted. Regression models revealed that the change in mindfulness facets nonjudging and nonreacting represented the largest effect on Uncertainty Reluctance to Disclose, while the change in self-compassion represented a smaller, significant effect. Nonjudging and self-compassion were found to have a marginal but not significant effect on Uncertainty Stress. Supporting trainee psychologists to tolerate the uncertainty inherent to clinical work is an important aspect of university training programs. Mindfulness programs can support student learning and potentially reduce burnout through the promotion of a nonjudging, nonreactive, and self-compassionate stance that may encourage trainees to disclose their uncertainty and seek support.
Article
Purpose Generation Z (GenZers) significantly influences sustainability-related issues in emerging economies like India. Literature on sustainability suggests exploring ways to enhance their sustainable behavior, especially for food and clothing products, which have detrimental consequences despite being essential. Mindfulness is often proposed as a factor that could potentially influence sustainability. However, the empirical association between mindfulness and sustainable consumption behavior (SCB) and the underlying pathways remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to advance the empirical understanding of how GenZers’ trait mindfulness affects their SCB for food and clothing. Design/methodology/approach Based on a time-lagged study involving responses from 519 Indian GenZers (college students aged 18–24 years) the authors examined two models (one for SCB related to food and one for clothing) to explore the direct relationships and mediating factors between trait mindfulness and SCB. Findings GenZers with higher levels of trait mindfulness are more likely to influence their SCB for food and clothing. Besides, in both models, self-regulation, self-compassion and prosocialness mediate the association between trait mindfulness and SCB. Research limitations/implications Mindfulness and its intervening variables are promising for positively driving SCB for food and clothing. Marketers and policymakers can consider these findings to strategize and encourage sustainable consumption, particularly among GenZers. Originality/value This seminal study uses the reperceiving theory to empirically validate the relationship between GenZers’ trait mindfulness and SCB for food and clothing.
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Religiosity has been related to positive health outcomes. Although this relationship is primarily based on studies of church attendance and health, more recent work has focused on the potential mechanisms that may mediate the religion-health findings. One principle that is taught by all of the world's major religions is compassion. It was hypothesized that one pathway through which religiosity may exert its positive influence on health is through encouraging compassionate attitudes and behaviors toward others. Two separate studies were conducted examining the relationships among intrinsic religiosity (IR), compassionate attitudes and behaviors, and measures of psychosocial health. Measures of psychosocial health included depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and social support. IR was related to positive psychosocial outcomes in both studies, and compassionate attitudes and behaviors mediated these relationships. Compassionate attitudes showed significant relationships with psychosocial outcome measures (depressive symptoms, r = -.46, p < .0001; perceived stress, r = -.45, p < .0001; satisfaction with social support, r = .54, p < .0001; marital adjustment, r = .44) and accounted for most of the mediating effect. Although social support was also related to the variables of interest, its effect was smaller than that of compassionate attitude, and controlling for social support did not significantly add to the mediating effect of compassionate attitude. This study found compassionate attitude to be an important factor in the religion-health relationship and related to positive psychosocial outcomes, including reduced depressive symptoms and reduced perceived stress. Future research on religiosity and health may benefit from exploring the concept of a "compassionate personality" (i.e., a way of being in the world where others are treated with love and respect).
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The authors examine the facet structure of mindfulness using five recently developed mindfulness questionnaires. Two large samples of undergraduate students completed mindfulness questionnaires and measures of other constructs. Psychometric properties of the mindfulness questionnaires were examined, including internal consistency and convergent and discriminant relationships with other variables. Factor analyses of the combined pool of items from the mindfulness questionnaires suggested that collectively they contain five clear, interpretable facets of mindfulness. Hierarchical confirmatory factor analyses suggested that at least four of the identified factors are components of an overall mindfulness construct and that the factor structure of mindfulness may vary with meditation experience. Mindfulness facets were shown to be differentially correlated in expected ways with several other constructs and to have incremental validity in the prediction of psychological symptoms. Findings suggest that conceptualizing mindfulness as a multifaceted construct is helpful in understanding its components and its relationships with other variables.
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Research has indicated spirituality buffers the adverse effect of stress, but few studies have examined the role of spirituality in the context of providing cancer care. This study examines the moderating effects of spirituality on the relation between caregiving stress and spousal caregivers' mental and physical health. In addition, gender differences in the target moderating effects are explored. A caregiver survey was mailed to familial caregivers nominated by their respective cancer survivors including measures of spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality), caregiving stress (Pearlin Stress Scale), and mental and physical health (MOS Short Form-36). Four hundred and three spousal caregivers provided valid information on these measures. Hierarchical regression analyses supported the hypothesized moderating effects of spirituality but in different patterns. Caregiving stress was associated with poorer mental functioning, which was less prominent among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-buffering effect). Caregiving stress was also associated with poorer physical functioning but was only significant among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-aggravating effect). The same stress-buffering or aggravating effects were found for both sexes. The findings suggest maintaining faith and finding meaning in cancer caregiving buffer the adverse effect of caregiving stress on mental health. Highly spiritual caregivers should also be encouraged to pay more attention to their physical health while providing cancer care.
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To determine whether lower levels of empathy among a sample of medical students in the United States are associated with personal and professional distress and to explore whether a high degree of personal well-being is associated with higher levels of empathy. Multi-institutional, cross-sectional survey. All medical schools in Minnesota (a private medical school, a traditional public university, and a public university with a focus in primary care). A total of 1,098 medical students. Validated instruments were used to measure empathy, distress (i.e., burnout and symptoms of depression), and well-being (high quality of life). Medical student empathy scores were higher than normative samples of similarly aged individuals and were similar to other medical student samples. Domains of burnout inversely correlated with empathy (depersonalization with empathy independent of gender, all P < .02, and emotional exhaustion with emotive empathy for men, P = .009). Symptoms of depression inversely correlated with empathy for women (all P < or = .01). In contrast, students' sense of personal accomplishment demonstrated a positive correlation with empathy independent of gender (all P < .001). Similarly, achieving a high quality of life in specific domains correlated with higher empathy scores (P < .05). On multivariate analysis evaluating measures of distress and well-being simultaneously, both burnout (negative correlation) and well-being (positive correlation) independently correlated with student empathy scores. Both distress and well-being are related to medical student empathy. Efforts to reduce student distress should be part of broader efforts to promote student well-being, which may enhance aspects of professionalism. Additional studies of student well-being and its potential influence on professionalism are needed.
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Five studies investigated the cognitive and emotional processes by which self-compassionate people deal with unpleasant life events. In the various studies, participants reported on negative events in their daily lives, responded to hypothetical scenarios, reacted to interpersonal feedback, rated their or others' videotaped performances in an awkward situation, and reflected on negative personal experiences. Results from Study 1 showed that self-compassion predicted emotional and cognitive reactions to negative events in everyday life, and Study 2 found that self-compassion buffered people against negative self-feelings when imagining distressing social events. In Study 3, self-compassion moderated negative emotions after receiving ambivalent feedback, particularly for participants who were low in self-esteem. Study 4 found that low-self-compassionate people undervalued their videotaped performances relative to observers. Study 5 experimentally induced a self-compassionate perspective and found that self-compassion leads people to acknowledge their role in negative events without feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions. In general, these studies suggest that self-compassion attenuates people's reactions to negative events in ways that are distinct from and, in some cases, more beneficial than self-esteem.
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