No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Self-Compassion
Abstract
This article defines the construct of self-compassion and describes the development of the Self-Compassion Scale. Self-compassion entails being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical; perceiving one's experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as isolating; and holding painful thoughts and feelings in mindful awareness rather than over-identifying with them. Evidence for the validity and reliability of the scale is presented in a series of studies. Results indicate that self-compassion is significantly correlated with positive mental health outcomes such as less depression and anxiety and greater life satisfaction. Evidence is also provided for the discriminant validity of the scale, including with regard to self-esteem measures.
... Rendahnya self compassion pada lanjut usia ini dapat ditangani dengan membantu para lanjut usia untuk merefleksikan pengalaman hidup dan mengekspresikan emosi mereka. dukungan sosial dapat membantu untuk mengurangi perasaan kesepian dan meningkatkan rasa kasih sayang terhadap diri sendiri melalui interaksi positif dengan sesama lanjut usia maupun individu lainnya (Neff, 2003). ...
... Compassion juga dikenal dengan belas kasih yang merupakan sikap ketika seseorang memiliki kesadaran atas penderitaan yang dialami oleh orang lain dan tidak memutuskan hubungan dengan orang tersebuh sehingga dapat menhasilkan perasaan yang baik dan menimbulkan keinginan untuk membantu (Wispe, 1991). Self Compassion adalah sikap individu yang mau menerima dan terbuka terhadap penderitaan diri sendiri, tidak menghindar atau memutuskan hubungan dengannya, dan keinginan untuk membantu diri sendiri dengan cara yang baik (Neff, 2003). ...
... Melalui mindfulness, mereka dapat mengelola emosi negatif dan menikmati momen-momen kecil dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Sikap ini membantu mereka mengurangi stres dan kecemasan, meningkatkan kesehatan mental, serta menemukan kebahagiaan dan kepuasan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari (Neff, 2003). ...
Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang self compassion lanjut usia di UPTD Pusat Pelayanan Sosial Griya Lansia Jawa Barat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh gambaran empiris mengenai: 1) Karakteristik Responden, 2) Tingkat Self Kindness, 3) Tingkat Common Humanity, dan 4) Tingkat Mindfulness yang dimiliki oleh responden. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kuantitatif deskriptif. Populasi penelitian ini merupakan 35 orang lansia yang berada di UPTD Pusat Pelayanan Sosial Griya Lansia Jawa Barat. Penentuan sampel pada penelitian ini dilakukan dengan teknik sampling jenuh. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan kuisioner yang terdiri dari 30 pernyataan. Pengumpulan data juga dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik observasi dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menyebutkan bahwa tingkat self kindness berada pada kategori tinggi dengan total skor 1339 atau 80%. Tingkat Common Humanity berada pada kategori sedang dengan total skor 783 atau 70%. Tingkat mindfulness berada pada kategori tinggi dengan total skor 1155 atau 83%. Secara umum tingkat self compassion lansia di UPTD Pusat Pelayanan Sosial Griya Lansia berada pada kategori tinggi dengan total skor 3277 atau 78%. Analisis masalah dan analisis kebutuhan yang telah dilakukan, maka peneliti mengusulkan program bernama “Peningkatan Self Compassion Lansia Melalui Kelompok Percakapan Sosial di UPTD Pusat Pelayanan Sosial Griya Lansia Jawa Barat” yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan self compassion terutama pada aspek common humanity. Kata Kunci: Self Compassion, Lanjut Usia, Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah Pusat Pelayanan Sosial Griya Lansia Jawa Barat
... Today, increasingly challenging life events reveal that human beings need to be more sensitive (Bayır-Toper et al., 2022). Self-compassion is defined as the individual's effort to recognize the emotions s/he experiences in the face of difficulties and negativities and to soothe these emotions, being able to handle the situation realistically, being tolerant and patient, without judging oneself while making an effort, and treating these experiences as a common human experience (Neff, 2003). Individuals with high self-compassion are individuals who show interest, compassion and understanding towards themselves in the face of the challenging experiences, accept that these difficulties are universal, and do not feel alone in this pain and do not judge themselves. ...
... Individuals with high self-compassion are individuals who show interest, compassion and understanding towards themselves in the face of the challenging experiences, accept that these difficulties are universal, and do not feel alone in this pain and do not judge themselves. In addition to all of these, they show patience, care and tolerance even to the aspects of their personalities that they don't like (Neff, 2003). An individual with self-compassion has the characteristics of caring about goodness, enduring distress, displaying a nonjudgmental stance, having sympathy and empathy, being able to focus attention sensitively, thinking and acting sensitively (Neff, 2003). ...
... In addition to all of these, they show patience, care and tolerance even to the aspects of their personalities that they don't like (Neff, 2003). An individual with self-compassion has the characteristics of caring about goodness, enduring distress, displaying a nonjudgmental stance, having sympathy and empathy, being able to focus attention sensitively, thinking and acting sensitively (Neff, 2003). ...
This study aims to examine the mediating role of body responsiveness and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between authenticity, self-compassion, and well-being among psychological counselors. A total of 174 psychological counselors, 137 women and 37 men, took part as the sample. The results showed that authenticity exhibited significantly indirect relationships with well-being (β=.21, p
... Additionally, the study will consider the potential role of downward social comparison in mitigating appearance anxiety by providing emotional comfort and reinforcing a positive self-concept (Mussweiler & Strack, 2000). Utilizing the Stress-Vulnerability Model (Zubin & Spring, 1977), the Stress and Coping Model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), and Self-Compassion Theory (Neff, 2003), this study will analyze the relationships between social comparison, self-objectification, and appearance anxiety. ...
... Higher self-compassion levels enable individuals to mitigate negative emotions, especially during stressors like upward social comparisons tied to appearance anxiety. Self-compassion, consisting of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, is crucial for managing emotional distress (Neff, 2003). Recent studies show that self-compassion not only improves emotional states but also buffers the link between upward social comparisons and appearance anxiety, particularly in competitive contexts (Neff & Germer, 2013a). ...
... Self-kindness, a key component of self-compassion, encourages individuals to treat themselves with care during setbacks rather than harshly criticizing themselves (Neff, 2003). Consistent with the stress and coping model, self-kindness enhances coping abilities in the secondary appraisal stage, reducing self-criticism during appearance-related anxiety and alleviating negative emotions from appearance comparisons (Neff & Pommier, 2013). ...
In the digital age, social media has not only transformed the way individuals interact but has also become a significant platform for self-presentation, especially among young people. Social comparison regarding appearance has become more prevalent in this environment, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. This study specifically examines the effects of upward social comparison (USC) on appearance anxiety, providing empirical support for the relationship between USC and appearance anxiety. Based on the Stress-Vulnerability Model, the Stress and Coping Model, Objectification Theory, and Self-Compassion Theory, the study constructs a moderated mediation model. An anonymous survey was conducted of 397 young adults (mean age = 21.6 years, SD = 2.12 years). The results showed that: (1) USC significantly predicted appearance anxiety (β = 0.546, p < 0.001); (2) self-objectification partially mediated the relationship between USC and appearance anxiety, with the mediation effect accounting for 21% of the total effect; (3) self-compassion moderated the relationship between USC and self-objectification, such that higher levels of self-compassion weakened the effect of USC on self-objectification.
... humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus overidentification (Neff, 2003b). According to Neff (2003a), self-kindness means being accepting, supportive, and understanding towards oneself rather than harshly judging oneself for one's shortcomings. Common humanity involves recognizing that a shared human experience entails making mistakes and having experiences of failure. ...
... The current study had parallel aims of (a) examining the impact of longer-term self-compassion journaling on selfcompassion and well-being outcomes and (b) evaluating participants' experiences of using the journal. We evaluated an existing 91-day physical journal (Switch Research, 2020) that was informed by Neff's (2003aNeff's ( , 2003b) model of self-compassion. The journal included information about self-compassion concepts across all dimensions of the selfcompassion model and daily prompts for reflective writing related to those concepts. ...
... The self-compassion journal was developed by a company called Switch Research and contained 91 journal entries (the 91st entry was to allow the journal to be completed at the end of a complete week; Switch Research, 2020). The journal was evidence-informed and the content was based on conceptual definitions by Neff (2003aNeff ( , 2003bNeff ( , 2020 and compassion-related research (e.g., Ferrari et al., 2019;Leary et al., 2007). The journal is designed for the general population. ...
Objectives
Self-compassion involves being caring and kind to oneself rather than self-judging during setbacks or in the face of shortcomings. Reflective writing through journaling is a simple intervention strategy that may promote self-compassion. However, the majority of reflective writing studies have examined relatively transient changes in self-compassion after a single writing induction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and participants’ perceptions of using a 91-day self-compassion journal.
Method
This study used a 2 (condition: journal versus waitlist control) by 4 (time: baseline, Day 21, 56, 91) within-between randomized control design with mixed methods. The four time points aligned with the three sub-sections of the journal. Online self-report questionnaires were used to measure self-compassion (i.e., self-kindness, mindfulness, over-identification, self-judgement, common humanity, and isolation) and psychological well-being (i.e., autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance). Changes in self-compassion and perceptions of the journal were also explored using open-ended questions.
Results
This study included 66 participants (72.3% White; 97% women; mean age = 28.00, SD = 7.72). There were significant group-by-time interactions for overall self-compassion (p < 0.001) and well-being (p = 0.015) in favor of the self-compassion journal group. Most participants in the journal group expressed positive feedback about the journal and noted its beneficial impact on their self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
Conclusions
The findings suggest a 91-day journal may improve self-compassion and well-being. Journaling may be one low-cost and accessible way to promote self-compassion. Future studies should examine whether improvements in self-compassion persist after completing the journal.
Preregistration
This study was not preregistered.
... The self-compassion scale developed by Neff (2003) was translated into Thai by a team consulting the Department of Mental Health in the year 2015 (B.E. 2558). ...
... Research among medical professionals has found that healthcare providers who show compassion for patients, or compassion for others, also tend to develop self-compassion. Neff's (2003) research identified self-compassion as comprising self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and mindfulness. Both mindfulness and self-compassion are associated with promoting an attitude of curiosity and nonjudgment towards one's experiences. ...
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.
... Given that this research domain is still emerging (Vigna and Strauss 2023) there is a need for further investigation, including studies focused on TNB people with other marginalized identities. Neff (2003a) proposed that self-compassion has three bipolar components: being kind rather than self-critical toward oneself during challenging life events; recognizing that struggles are part of the universality of humanity's shared struggle rather than self-isolating; and being mindful of personal suffering through balanced awareness versus over-identifying with adversity. Most research conducted with Neff's (2003a) scale has used a total (unitary) self-compassion score rather than examining its opposing components separately (Phillips 2019). ...
... Self-compassion (i.e., self-warmth and self-coldness) was assessed using the 26-item Self-Compassion Scale (Neff 2003a) which measures how people typically act toward, feel, or think about themselves during difficult times. Participants' responses are rated on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (Almost never) to 5 (Almost always). ...
Eating disorders (EDs) are highly prevalent among transgender and nonbinary (TNB) adults, and internalized transnegativity is a key risk factor for ED symptomatology. Although extant literature has established that self-compassion protects against EDs among the cisgender population, research among TNB adults is nascent. The current study sought to identify whether internalized transnegativity and components of self-compassion (i.e., self-warmth and self-coldness) were independently associated with ED symptomatology, and whether the components of self-compassion moderated the relation between internalized transnegativity and ED symptomatology. An international sample of 127 TNB adults aged between 18 and 69 years (M = 32.24, SD = 11.12) completed the Transgender Identity Survey, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Screen for Disordered Eating via an online survey. Simple linear regression models were run, followed by moderation analyses. Internalized transnegativity and self-coldness were associated with ED symptomatology, but self-warmth was not. Self-warmth and self-coldness did not moderate the relation between internalized transnegativity and ED symptomatology. The results highlight that self-coldness and, to a lesser extent, internalized transnegativity account for a significant portion of the variance in ED symptomatology among TNB adults. Although these effect sizes were small, they have important clinical implications. Future research should take alternative analytical approaches to examine how self-warmth, self-coldness, and internalized transnegativity are related to ED symptomatology among TNB adults.
... 1544). Self-compassion involves the three tenets of kindness towards the self, an understanding of one's humanity, and mindfulness (Neff, 2003a(Neff, , 2003b. These tenets allow people with the space to connect to themselves with compassion via the intentional encouragement of warmth, concern and caring toward the self (Neff, 2003a(Neff, , 2003b. ...
... Self-compassion involves the three tenets of kindness towards the self, an understanding of one's humanity, and mindfulness (Neff, 2003a(Neff, , 2003b. These tenets allow people with the space to connect to themselves with compassion via the intentional encouragement of warmth, concern and caring toward the self (Neff, 2003a(Neff, , 2003b. Berardini, Chalmers, and Ramey (2021) caution that while "self-compassion can fall under 'self-care' as a strategy to care for the self" (p. ...
Working and providing cancer support services is both challenging and rewarding, yet the lived experiences of the personnel providing such services remain overlooked. It is vital to address the experiences of service providers to better understand the nature of their work and how it may impact their well-being. This paper explores the lived experiences of cancer support service providers, focusing on how they conceptualize and practice self-compassion in their workplace. A qualitative approach centred on phenomenological hermeneutics was utilized to collect in-depth interview data from service providers working in cancer support centres across southwestern Ontario, Canada. The research team used descriptive and narrative analysis to analyze the interview data and produced the following four themes: 1) acknowledging personal limits as a form of self-compassion; 2) organizational support; 3) emotional environment; and 4) prioritized self-care. Recommendations include more comprehensive support systems for service providers, especially if they may be experiencing secondary trauma or compassion fatigue. The findings gleaned from the service providers contribute valuable considerations for both the cancer care workplace and post-secondary institutions. While the findings provide real-life examples of effective support for service providers in the workplace, they also provide important considerations for post-secondary programming that include strategies for balancing empathetic service delivery with exercising self-compassion.
... Self-compassion Self-compassion was measured by the Self-compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003). The scale comprises of 26 items assessing self-compassion, with positive aspects including self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness and negative aspects including self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = "almost never" and 5 = "almost always"). ...
... Self-compassion This Self-compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) was used to measure the level of self-compassion by separately scoring self-warmth and self-coldness as Study 1. Cronbach's alpha of self-warmth at pre-and post-assessment was .87 and .90, whereas Cronbach's alpha of self-coldness at preand post-assessment was .88 and .93. ...
While previous studies have examined the independent effect of self‐compassion or compassion for others on well‐being, the present study examined how self‐compassion may interact with compassion for others in predicting well‐being. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, 457 participants completed assessments at baseline and 229 participants were retained and completed the assessment at 4‐month follow‐up. Results showed that baseline self‐compassion predicted higher levels of subsequent well‐being when baseline compassion for others was moderate or high. Study 2 recruited 147 participants and they were assigned to either the self‐compassion condition or the control condition. Results showed that participants who practiced self‐compassion for 1 week in the self‐compassion condition showed more reduction in negative affect than the control condition when baseline compassion for others was high. Findings showed that the effects of compassion for the self on one's well‐being may be contingent on one's compassion for others.
... The self-compassion levels of clinical nurses were evaluated using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), originally developed by Neff (52) and later translated and revised by Chen (53). The SCS consists of 26 items organized into six dimensions: self-kindness (5 items), selfjudgment (5 items), common humanity (4 items), isolation (4 items), mindfulness (4 items), and over-identification (4 items). ...
Background
As the workload of clinical nursing continues to increase, the mental health of nurses has emerged as a critical area of concern. Self-compassion, moral resilience, and work engagement are essential components in enhancing the mental health of clinical nurses. Although it is well-established that self-compassion significantly contributes to improved work engagement, there remains a notable lack of research investigating the specific mechanisms through which self-compassion influences work engagement, particularly from the perspective of moral resilience. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the relationships among self-compassion, moral resilience, and work engagement in clinical nurses, while also validating the mediating role of moral resilience in the relationship between self-compassion and work engagement.
Methods
This study utilized a convenience sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional online survey involving 844 clinical nurses from four tertiary A hospitals in Xi’an, China, between January and March 2024. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that included the Self-Compassion Scale, the Rushton Moral Resilience Scale, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis H rank-sum test, Spearman correlation analysis, and the SPSS PROCESS macro.
Results
A significant positive correlation was observed between clinical nurses’ self-compassion and moral resilience ( r = 0.700, p < 0.01). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was identified between self-compassion and work engagement ( r = 0.455, p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between moral resilience and work engagement ( r = 0.510, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that moral resilience partially mediates the relationship between clinical nurses’ self-compassion and work engagement. The overall effect of self-compassion on work engagement ( β = 0.493) consists of both a direct effect ( β = 0.251) and an indirect effect mediated by moral resilience ( β = 0.242). Notably, the mediating effect accounts for 49.09% of the total effect.
Conclusion
Clinical nurses’ moral resilience plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-compassion and work engagement. Nursing managers should prioritize fostering and enhancing the self-compassion and moral resilience of clinical nurses to effectively elevate their levels of work engagement. These targeted interventions can ultimately improve not only the mental health and professional well-being of nurses but also the overall quality of care delivered in medical institutions.
... Apart from knowledge, compassion is a psychological factor related to stigma. Compassion originated from Buddhist thought with a core theme of "common humanity" (Neff, 2003a(Neff, , 2003b. Compassion is being susceptible to one's personal or others' suffering with a willingness to attempt to ameliorate and preclude it (Strauss et al., 2016). ...
The rising proportion of mental health issues and significant treatment gaps in India makes it essential to explore its antecedents and consequences. Among several other factors, discrimination and public stigma related to mental health conditions have become a significant impediment for those experiencing psychiatric conditions to seek psychological treatment. The current study explores the nuanced relationship between predictors' Knowledge about Mental Health and the understudied variable, Compassion towards others, with the criterion variable, Attitude towards mentally ill persons. A cross-sectional research design was employed wherein 250 young adults aged 18-40 years (Mean= 23.02, SD = 4.79) were recruited, employing convenience sampling from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. Data was collected in the classroom settings during February 2024 using standardised questionnaires. The obtained data was subjected to descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. The results indicate that predictors significantly predict the stigmatising attitude. Regression analysis between knowledge and attitude revealed the model was statistically significant, β =-0.50, t (250) =-9.24, p<0.00. The model concerning compassion and attitude was also statistically significant, β =-0.23, t (250) =-3.86, p <0.00. The study underscores the importance of improving knowledge and compassion towards others in developing favourable attitudes towards mentally ill persons, which may increase support and positive societal attitudes towards individuals with mental illness. Future investigators shall explore various moderators and mediators between the studied variables.
... The evaluation of mindfulness employs an assessment instrument devised by Neff (2003), encompassing 4 questionnaire items. Specifically tailored to align with the criteria pertinent to the Indonesian health care setting. ...
This study explores the influence of psychological contract breach on key behavioral outcomes—turnover intention, job performance, and burnout—among Indonesian nurses, while considering mindfulness as a moderating factor. Given the increasing application of mindfulness in enhancing mental and psychological well-being as therapy, its specific effects on workplace behavior among nurses remain underexplored. To fill this gap, the study surveyed 165 nurses across Indonesia using a non-probability purposive sampling method. The analysis revealed was conducted using SmartPLS version 4.0, which included preliminary assessments of reliability and validity, followed by hypothesis testing through structural equation modelling. The results demonstrated that PCB negatively influenced both turnover intention and burnout, consistent with previous research. However, contrary to expectations, PCB positively impacted job performance. Mindfulness did not significantly moderate the relationships between PCB and job performance, turnover intention, or burnout. These findings suggest that while PCB detrimentally affects turnover intention and burnout, it may also lead to increased job performance, possibly as a compensatory response. The limited moderating effect of mindfulness highlights the need for more comprehensive strategies to address the adverse outcomes of PCB. These findings underscore the complex relationships between psychological contract breaches and employee behavior, emphasizing the necessity for healthcare institutions to address psychological contract issues and promote mindfulness practices to improve job performance and reduce burnout and turnover intention.
... This scale is based on the original SCS (Neff, 2003b), and is a self-reported measure of self-compassion based on 12 items rated on a scale of 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always). The scale has six sub-dimensions with two items in each, which are summed to identify a total score, with higher scores indicating a high level of self-compassion. ...
High intolerance of uncertainty (IoU) is a well-defined risk and maintenance factor for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Studies have identified different antecedents of IoU, adding low self-compassion to this list. High self-compassion may make it easier for people to cope with uncertain situations and reduce self-blame and control in these situations. Although the protective role of self-compassion in different psychopathologies has been examined, few studies have investigated its role in OCD. No study has investigated the importance of the relationship between self-compassion and IoU for OCD symptoms. Considering that individuals with high self-compassion tendencies do not impose negative feelings on themselves in the face of uncertainties and are more tolerant of them, the association between self-compassion and IoU might be necessary for OCD. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-compassion, IoU, and OCD symptoms and test the mediating role of IoU between self-compassion and OCD symptoms. Four hundred-one adults voluntarily participated in the study and completed measures about self-compassion, IoU, OCD, depression, and anxiety. Results demonstrated the negative correlation between self-compassion and IoU and OCD. Mediation analysis results confirmed the hypothesis that self-compassion was associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms through the IoU when controlling for depression and anxiety symptoms, gender, and age. Our findings were consistent with recent studies showing the importance of self-related psychological constructs for OCD. Low self-compassion is a feature that needs to be examined in this context as an essential initiator of obsessions and compulsions.
... High reliability and validity scores are reported for the Self-Compassion Scale, and overall validity was calculated through Cronbach alpha method as being 0.92. Furthermore, all subscales hold an acceptable internal consistency (18). ...
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion (Kg-free) on obese and overweight women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome components. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 52 obese and overweight women with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 were evaluated in two intervention and control groups, The intervention was implemented weekly. Triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood pressure (BP), BMI, and waistline measurements thyroid tests were assessed measured as the main outcome, and life-quality and sexual function improvement as its secondary outcome in pre, post and follow-up phase. Results: The study results indicated that the acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion (Kg-free) protocol was effective on the BMI, waistline, TG level, BP (systolic and diastolic index), quality of life, and sexual function in women with overweight and obesity, but fasting BP and HDL level did not significant (d=0.001–0.50; significant at the 0.001 level). Conclusions: The present trial was carried out aiming to examine the efficacy of group intervention based on acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion on obese and overweighed women and its effect on the components of metabolic syndrome, including the waistline, BMI, BP, FBS, TG, HDL, the quality of life, and the sexual function. Our results showed that group intervention based on acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion could reduce the BMI of the individuals in the intervention group compared to the control group. Moreover, the present study provided further evidence that this intervention bears an essential part in the psychological interventions for individuals struggling with overweight and obesity.
... To gauge the levels of self-compassion among participants, we utilized the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; [66]; adapted into Italian by Veneziani et al. [67]). The SCS is a 26-item scale that is scored on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (=almost never) to 5 (=almost always). ...
Numerous studies have demonstrated that empathy and compassion are significant predictors of pro-environmental and sustainable behaviors. Nevertheless, these studies do not clarify how the relationship between empathy and compassion and consequent pro-social behavior develops. How can feeling the emotion of nature’s suffering move compassion and activate behaviors that support the environment? This study aimed to verify whether self-compassion could act as a mediator in the relationship between empathy with nature and compassion, which in turn is associated with pro-environmental behaviors. A serial mediation model was analyzed on a sample of N = 1213 individuals. The results showed that women had higher levels of empathy with nature, compassion, uncompassionate behaviors toward themselves, and pro-environmental behaviors than males. Furthermore, the serial mediation model was confirmed, demonstrating that our initial hypotheses were supported. Self-compassion and compassion served as partial mediators in the relationship between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, we observed the direct effects of both empathy and self-compassion on pro-environmental behaviors. The findings suggest that fostering self-compassion and compassion through targeted interventions may enhance individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors, especially by leveraging their empathetic connection with nature. Clinicians and educators could integrate self-compassion training into programs aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
... The Korean validated version ) of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) comprises 26 items measuring sub-factors of self-compassion such as self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification, which are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always). Higher scores represent higher self-compassion. ...
Background: The International Trauma Interview (ITI) is a clinician-administered assessment that has been newly developed for the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD).
Objective: The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of the ITI for treatment-seeking people with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in South Korea, with the aims of verifying the validity and reliability of ITI as well as examining the differentiation of ICD-11 CPTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Methods: In total, data of 103 people were analysed. Clinical psychologists conducted the ITI and the structured interview for BPD. Along with the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), self-report measurements on ACE, adulthood trauma, emotion dysregulation, dissociation, depression, adult attachment, BPD symptoms, self-harm, self-compassion, and quality of life were collected. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factorial validity and a structural equation model (SEM) was used to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity.
Results: The CFA supported the second-order two-factor model of ICD-11 CPTSD. However, we determined that the alternatively suggested second-order two-factor model of reexperience avoidance combined PTSD and DSO described the data the best. As was hypothesized, ITI PTSD and DSO showed convergent and discriminant validity, and ITI DSO also showed distinctive features with BPD. Interrater reliability and composite reliability were both found to be acceptable. Agreement and consistency between ITQ and ITI were also fair although tentative.
Conclusions: The ITI is determined to be a valid and reliable method for the assessment and diagnosis of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD, and it is considered to be promising for the differential diagnosis of BPD in South Korean treatment-seeking people with ACE. Future research should aim to assess the agreement between ITI and ITQ while also seeking alternative criteria for ITI PTSD across variant trauma memory features.
... Participants' self-compassion was assessed by The Chinese version of the Self-Compassion Scale, with 26 items (Chen et al., 2011;Neff, 2003). The participants responded on their feelings of inadequacy or suffering experience on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 = almost never to 5 = almost always). ...
With the popularity of the internet, cyberbullying has emerged as an increasingly serious social issue, particularly affecting college students’ behavioral health. This study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of self-compassion (SC) in this relationship. Using a longitudinal design, data were collected from 892 Chinese college students (414 females, 478 males) in two waves spanning 1 year. The present study measured the compassionate self-responding (CS) and reduced uncompassionate self-responding (RUS) as the two dimensions of self-compassion. The study found that (1) perceived discrimination was significantly and positively correlated with cyberbullying (r = 0.085, p < 0.05); (2) self-esteem mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying (Indirect effect = 0.010, SE = 0.004, Boot 95% CI [0.003, 0.019]); (3) RUS moderated both the direct relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying (b = −0.045, SE = 0.019, 95% CI [−0.082, −0.008]) as well as the indirect relationship through self-esteem (b = −0.081, SE = 0.033, 95% CI [−0.146, −0.015]). Simple slope analysis revealed that college students with high RUS exhibited less cyberbullying when facing discrimination, while those low in RUS were more likely to engage in cyberbullying. The SC exhibited similar moderating effects, but CS did not demonstrate significant moderating effects in those relationships. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between perceived discrimination, self-esteem, self-compassion, and cyberbullying and offers novel insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying cyberbullying among college students. The findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem and fostering self-compassion, particularly by addressing uncompassionate self-responding, as a strategy to prevent cyberbullying among disadvantaged college students.
... Psychotherapeutic interventions conducted in a group format may align with the mental health expectations of Syrian refugees who come from a collectivist culture. At the same time, group interventions may remind participants of the common humanity component of self-compassion, fostering a sense that they are not isolated in their traumatic feelings and experiences (Neff, 2003). Another important aspect is the need for changes in the qualifications of psychotherapists to overcome language and culture-related barriers (Eskici et al., 2021;Sijbrandij et al., 2017;Spaaij et al., 2023). ...
The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have led to a substantial influx of Syrian refugees, exposing them to severe traumatic experiences and contributing to a range of mental health issues. This systematic review examines psychotherapeutic
interventions employed in psychological treatment studies with Syrian refugees, focusing on 22 articles identified across Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The review highlights the need for psychotherapeutic intervention for
Syrian refugees due to the high prevalence of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, grief, and loss which results from an increased risk of various forms of violence and exploitation. Psychotherapeutic interventions in the reviewed studies were Problem Management Plus (PM+), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), eye movement, desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), narrative therapy, dance and movement therapy, art therapy, psychosocial interventions, and online
psychotherapy. In the studies conducted with young and child refugees, various psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive-behavioral skills therapy, EMDR group therapy, art, dance and movement therapy, and early adolescence skills for
emotions were applied. In studies conducted with adult refugees, it is noteworthy that studies frequently applied the PM+ intervention. It is seen that PM+ was applied especially in the camp environment at the beginning of the refugee process. In
most of the studies, group format and face-to-face psychotherapeutic intervention were preferred. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored interventions that account for the cultural backgrounds and experiences of Syrian refugees. By
addressing these barriers and implementing culturally sensitive approaches, mental health professionals can better support the psychological recovery and integration of Syrian refugees in host countries.
... To evaluate participants' self-compassion, a short form of the Self-Compassion Scale that was developed by Raes et al. (2011) was utilized. This scale consists of the items of the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003). The adapta- tion study of the scale for adolescents in Turkish culture was conducted by Yıldırım and Sarı (2018). ...
This study examined the direct and indirect relationships among resilience, its individual-level protective factors (i.e., courage and self-compassion), and its positive outcomes (i.e., prosocial behavior tendencies) in a sample of adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds in Türkiye (Turkey). Quantitative data were collected through surveys from 1030 adolescents across seven Anatolian High Schools, which were selected using cluster sampling. A path analysis, which is a specific form of structural equation modeling, was used to test the proposed model and investigate the direct and indirect relationships. Results revealed positive associations between courage, self-compassion, and resilience. Resilience was positively linked with all subscales of prosocial behavior tendencies. Moreover, courage demonstrated both direct associations with self-compassion and indirect associations with prosocial behavior tendencies through self-compassion and resilience. Unexpectedly, self-compassion was negatively linked to all subscales of prosocial behavior tendencies. These findings demonstrated that the interplay among resilience, its predictors, and outcomes is complex and not always straightforward.
... The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is an established 26-item self-report measure of attitudes to oneself when facing adversity (Neff, 2003). Each item consists of a statement scored on a scale from 1-5. ...
A person’s life changes dramatically after an acquired brain injury (ABI). Rehabilitation after an ABI often focuses on the physical changes, while little attention is given to the emotional and existential aspects. This multiple case study (N = 8) explored the clinical utility of adding a structured psychological intervention to an existing rehabilitation programme following an ABI. The case study had an embedded ABA experimental design that was based on participants self-assessment on standardised scales (HADS, PGIS, WHO-5, SCS and DASS). These measures were obtained pre- and immediately post-intervention, as well as at a 3-month follow-up. During the intervention period, the participant also completed a daily questionnaire. Furthermore, field notes were taken during the intervention period by the therapist, and an evaluation interview was conducted after the intervention. The psychological intervention was based on the BackUp© programme. The embedded data was analysed through visual inspection and thematic analyses. The participants reported that the intervention was effective in aiding their psychological adjustment. The intervention gave the participants room for reflection and space to share emotional reactions. This helped them participate in the overall rehabilitation programme and enhanced their biopsychosocial outcomes in general. Based on this multiple case study, psychological interventions may have clinical value when providing comprehensive rehabilitation. An intervention based on the BackUp© programme could be one useful approach. Future studies need to explore other forms of intervention and their benefits to clarify the best psychological interventions for individuals who have suffered an ABI.
Feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) are a heterogeneous grouping of disorders at the mind‐body interface, with typical onset from childhood into emerging adulthood. They occur along a spectrum of disordered eating and compensatory weight management behaviors, and from low to high body weight. Psychiatric comorbidities are the norm. In contrast to other major psychiatric disorders, first‐line treatments for FEDs are mainly psychological and/or nutrition‐focused, with medications playing a minor adjunctive role. Patients, carers and clinicians all have identified personalization of treatment as a priority. Yet, for all FEDs, the evidence base supporting this personalization is limited. Importantly, disordered eating and related behaviors can have serious physical consequences and may put the patient's life at risk. In these cases, immediate safety and risk management considerations may at least for a period need to be prioritized over other efforts at personalization of care. This paper systematically reviews several key domains that may be relevant to the characterization of the individual patient with a FED aimed at personalization of management. These domains include symptom profile, clinical subtypes, severity, clinical staging, physical complications and consequences, antecedent and concomitant psychiatric conditions, social functioning and quality of life, neurocognition, social cognition and emotion, dysfunctional cognitive schemata, personality traits, family history, early environmental exposures, recent environmental exposures, stigma, and protective factors. Where possible, validated assessment measures for use in clinical practice are identified. The limitations of the current evidence are pointed out, and possible directions for future research are highlighted. These also include novel and emerging approaches aimed at providing more fine‐grained and sophisticated ways to personalize treatment of FEDs, such as those that utilize neurobiological markers. We additionally outline remote measurement technologies designed to delineate patients’ illness and recovery trajectories and facilitate development of novel intervention approaches.
Aim
Self‐stigma is a major factor preventing the recovery of individuals with schizophrenia. Psychosocial interventions can reduce self‐stigma, and mental health nurses may play a crucial role in leading them, but little is known about the modifiable factors that should be targeted. We aimed to investigate the association between self‐stigma and self‐compassion in patients with schizophrenia from admission to the first follow‐up after discharge.
Methods
Twenty‐three patients with schizophrenia were recruited from an acute psychiatric ward in a private psychiatric hospital in Japan. Participants filled out the Japanese versions of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale, the Self‐Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at the following three time points: 1 month after admission, discharge, and first follow‐up after discharge at outpatient care. We used a linear mixed model to examine the association between self‐stigma, self‐compassion, and the symptoms. In the first model, we used self‐stigma as a dependent variable and included time of assessment and positive and negative symptoms as independent variables. In the second model, we added self‐compassion to the independent variables.
Results
Self‐stigma did not change over time. Regarding the linear mixed model, the first model showed that participants with more positive symptoms tended to report worse self‐stigma ( p = .052). The second model showed a significant association between increasing self‐stigma and higher over‐identification ( p = .001).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that interventions focusing on over‐identification can reduce self‐stigma. Nurse‐led intervention programs with a focus on over‐identification should be further developed for effectiveness.
Bu çalışmanın amacı hissedilen pozitif-negatif duygulanımların yenilikçi iş davranışı üzerindeki etkilerini tespit ederek öz şefkatin bu etkiler üzerinde bir rolü olup olmadığını araştırmak ve katılımcıların deneyimleri üzerinden kavramlara yönelik derinlemesine bir bakış açısı sunmaktır. Karma yöntemle açıklayıcı sıralı desen üzerinden yürütülen araştırmada kadın girişimciler örneklem olarak seçilmiştir. Nicel aşamada 286 adet anket toplanmış ve veriler analiz edilmiştir. Fenomoloji temelinde yürütülen nitel aşamada ise 12 kadın girişimci ile yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiş, bu görüşmelere ilişkin betimsel ve içerik analiz sonuçları raporlanmıştır. Nicel aşama sonuçlarında öz şefkatin aracılık rolü saptanmış olup nitel aşamayla da nicel sonuçların zenginleştirilmesi ve kavramlara yönelik ayrıntılara ulaşılması sağlanmıştır.
Both parental psychological control (PPC) and state self-compassion have been demonstrated to be associated with depression. However, there remains a need to illuminate the possible direct and indirect pathways among them from a developmental perspective that could serve as intervention targets. Therefore, this study investigated the direct and indirect associations among developmental trajectories of PPC, state self-compassion, and depression in adolescents. A total of 1660 Chinese middle school students (51.93% boys; Mage = 13.51; SD = 0.83) completed self-report measures on 3 time points across 1 years. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect associations among the developmental trajectories of the study variables. Results revealed that the developmental trajectory of PPC was positively and directly related to the developmental trajectory of depression, while the developmental trajectory of state self-compassion was negatively and directly related to the developmental trajectory of depression; and the developmental trajectory of PPC was indirectly related to the developmental trajectory of depression via the mediating effect of state self-compassion. The findings elucidated the direct and indirect longitudinal associations among PPC, state self-compassion, and depression, highlighting that interventions aimed at fostering state self-compassion may benefit to prevent the developmental progression from PPC to depression in adolescents.
Objectives
Extant research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) support psychosocial well-being in Western, predominantly White populations. However, there is a dearth of research investigating the benefits of MBIs in ethno-racial and culturally diverse samples. A systematic evaluation of how MBIs are culturally adapted is warranted to foster well-being in equity deserving groups.
Methods
This review consolidated the available literature exploring the benefits of culturally adapted group-based MBIs on psychosocial outcomes within persons 18 + years of age from ethno-racial minority populations. Studies were assessed based on cultural adaptations according to eight dimensions: language, persons, metaphors, content, concepts, goals, methods, and context. Following the standards for systematic reviews, a total of ten studies were included.
Results
Findings indicated that culturally adapted MBIs are associated with positive outcomes in depressive symptoms, stress, and anxiety within ethno-racial minority populations. Results were inconsistent regarding improvements in mindfulness. The most common adaptation across studies pertained to content and language (60% of studies for both adaptations), demonstrating efforts to enhance intervention accessibility and align with cultural values, customs, and beliefs. The least commonly employed cultural adaptations involved goals and concepts, indicating a lower likelihood of aligning goal setting with clients’ cultural values and formulating treatment in a contextually relevant manner.
Conclusions
Cultural adaptations can support evidence-based treatment implementation among ethno-racial and culturally diverse populations. However, further research is needed to strengthen and validate these conclusions.
Preregistration
This study was preregistered with PROSPERO, no. CRD42022365796.
Procrastination, a widespread problem, impairs diverse life areas, particularly work and education due to the exigence of specific deadlines. Since procrastination arises from difficulties in emotional regulation with patterns of avoidance-based coping strategies, protective factors such as psychological flexibility and self-compassion have been proposed. The present study aimed to preliminarily assessing the acceptability and potential benefits of a new 10-session group intervention, based on principles from acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion: STOP Procrastination. Eleven participants (63.6% female, 54.5% undergraduate students) were assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-intervention regarding procrastination, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion. STOP was delivered in group format by clinical psychologists throughout 10 weekly in-person sessions. Results indicate improvement in procrastination and emotional regulation processes. Participants also reported the intervention to be acceptable and useful, with perceived benefits. Although this is a preliminary pilot study, results are encouraging, and further research is warranted to evaluate efficacy of STOP Procrastination.
Objectives
Validate the English version of the Self-Compassion Scale Short-Form (SCS-SF) as a reliable measure in chronic pain. Explore self-compassion’s relationship with pain-related outcomes.
Methods
A total of 240 chronic pain patients (at 6-months) and 256 community participants (at 12-months) completed two prospective survey studies. SCS-SF psychometric properties were evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM), test–retest reliability (Pearson’s r) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) in both samples. Convergent validity/clinical relevance was assessed in the chronic pain sample via univariate linear regressions between self-compassion and pain intensity, interference, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, anxiety and depression.
Results
The SCS-SF showed acceptable internal consistency in both samples (α > 0.70, range = 0.74–0.79), high test–retest reliability over 6-months in the pain sample (r = 0.81, p < .001) and sub-threshold over 12-months in the community (r = 0.59 p < .001). EFA revealed a two-factor model distinguishing compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding in both samples. CFA identified a one-factor and two-factor model in both samples, but it did not meet statistical thresholds. ESEM identified the best fit for the chronic pain group was for a two-factor model (RMSEA and SRMR < 0.08; CFI and TLI > 0.90), whereas no models met acceptable fit criteria in the community group. A two-bifactor Bayesian model had suitable fit in both groups. In the chronic pain sample, SCS-SF and compassionate self-responding negatively predicted pain intensity, interference, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing and positively predicted self-efficacy over 6-months. Uncompassionate self-responding positively predicted anxiety, depression, catastrophizing and negatively predicted self-efficacy but did not predict pain outcomes.
Discussion
The SCS-SF is a reliable and valid measure in chronic pain. Total and sub-factor scores appear to have distinct relationships with pain outcomes. Future research should consider self-compassion as a unitary and/or bifactorial (consisting of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding) construct in chronic pain when measured using the SCS-SF.
Background
A lung cancer diagnosis has a huge impact on the psychological well-being of both patients and family caregivers. However, the current psychological stress status among dyads remains unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and identify the factors that influence patients with lung cancer and their caregivers.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 254 dyads of lung cancer patients and family caregivers from four tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China from January 2021 to June 2021. Besides, we used several instruments to collect data on depression, anxiety, illness perception, mindfulness, self-compassion, and dyadic coping. The independent samples t-test, analysis of one-way variance, Spearman’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were employed.
Results
Results showed that 21.3% of patients and 29.5% of caregivers experienced depression, while 22.0% of patients and 33.5% of caregivers reported anxiety. For lung cancer patients, patients’ illness perception positively predicted their depression scores and patients’ level of mindfulness and level of self-compassion negatively predicted their depression scores; patients’ illness perception positively predicted their anxiety scores, and only living with children, patients’ mindfulness and self-compassion levels were negatively predicted their anxiety scores. For caregivers, caregivers’ level of illness perception and the number of other caregivers positively predicted their depression and anxiety scores, and caregiver’s dyadic coping level, residence (county or town, and city), and caregiver’s self-compassion level, were negatively predicted their depression and anxiety scores.
Conclusion
The prevalence of psychological stress response of lung cancer patients and caregivers was high and influenced by family living situation, number of persons assisting in care, place of residence, patient-caregiver relationship, levels of illness perception, mindfulness, self-compassion, and dyadic coping.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrial.gov NCT06746948.
Autistic adults experience greater rates of anxiety and depression compared to the general population. Compassion-focused therapy interventions, aimed at promoting self-compassion capabilities, have shown efficacy in improving mental health outcomes in autistic and non-autistic samples suffering from self-criticism that contribute to difficulties in emotion regulation. We explored the experiences of autistic adults during a brief one-week online self-compassion exercise to evaluate it’s feasibility and acceptability through self-report, experience sampling, and parasympathetic activity measured via HRV. Pre- to post-intervention comparisons showed significant improvement in trait self-compassion and fears of self-compassion, but this did not extend to acute measures of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) nor difficulties in emotion regulation. HRV measures displayed significant increases during self-compassionate practice, although there were no significant changes in physiological reactivity pre- to post-intervention. Experience sampling measures found that whether participants acted on opportunities to be self-compassionate was predictive of concurrent evaluations of affective system activation, whereby acting self-compassionately was associated with greater reported activation of the soothing affective system. Together, our findings support the use of multimodal approaches to investigating the accessibility and efficacy of compassion-focused approaches to resolving emotional difficulties experienced by autistic adults.
In this article, the authors aim to offer a perspective on self-compassion capable of becoming part of a unified psychology; however not “from scratch”, but based on what Neff (2003a, b) proposed. This is through the analysis and refinement of her theory in two stages. First, they check whether the supposed six factors exist in the constitution of self-compassion using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique in a collected sample for this study (249 participants, 69.8% women ranging in age from 18 to 65, median = 22). In the second stage, they analyze and refine Neff’s theory based on the results of the EFA, and in light of an evolutionary perspective and Aristotle’s philosophy, following, respectively, the suggestions proposed by Zagaria et al. (2020); Osmo and Borri (2024a) that aim to unify psychological science.
Background
Self‐compassion is an essential component of self‐care. Recognizing it as a nursing diagnosis can promote interventions to address Inadequate Self‐Compassion.
Aim
This study aims to clinically validate the new NANDA‐I diagnosis (00325) Inadequate Self‐Compassion.
Methodology
A mixed‐methods study was conducted, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A descriptive, cross‐sectional, and prospective study was planned. Participants: We used the Self‐Compassion Scale (SCS) to identify individuals with Inadequate Self‐Compassion among nursing students. Subsequently, we conducted a group interview with these individuals, stratified by academic year of the nursing degree.
Results
The group interview followed the structure of the new NANDA‐I diagnosis, with diagnostic items serving as variables for analyzing qualitative data. The study revealed that nursing students commonly experience Inadequate Self‐Compassion. Group interviews with participants who reported low self‐compassion validated the diagnostic items of the new Inadequate Self‐Compassion diagnosis.
Conclusion
The study validates the new NANDA‐I diagnosis of 00325 Inadequate Self‐Compassion clinically.
Implications for nursing practice
The present study raises the level of diagnostic evidence from level 2.1. Conceptual validity to level 2.3.1a. Qualitative validity, increasing the strength of the evidence for diagnostic validity.
ÖZ İnsanlık tarihi boyunca zor zamanlarda özellikle de hastalık sürecinde Maneviyat, yaşam kalitesi, sağlık ve refahın ayrılmaz bir bileşeni olarak ortaya çıkar. Manevi baş etme yöntemleri yaşamı değiştiren sorunlarla baş etmede güçlü bir başa çıkma mekanizması olarak kabul edilir literatürdeki çalışmalar sağlık profesyonellerinin tedavi sürecinde sadece fiziksel değil psikolojik ve manevi dokunuşlarının öneminden bahsetmektedir. Özellikle benzersiz zorluklarla uğraşan sağlık çalışanlarının bu zorluklarla başa çıkmak için ihtiyaç duydukları manevi desteğin gerekliliğine çok az çalışma odaklanmıştır. Bu makale hayat kurtarma sorumluluğuyla karşı karşıya kalarak zorlu ve yoğun bir iş ortamında çalışmakta olan hastane öncesi sağlık çalışanlarının, manevi ihtiyaçlarını derinlemesine incelemektedir. Yöntem olarak nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden literatür taraması kullanılmıştır. Hastane öncesi çalışanlarda İş yükü, travmatik olaylara maruz kalma sıklığı, sosyal destek eksikliği gibi faktörlerin tükenmişlik oluşturduğu belirlenmiştir. Hastane öncesi çalışanlarının merhamet yorgunluğu duygusal tükenmişlik, duyarsızlaşma ve kişisel başarı eksikliği gibi belirtileri yaşadıkları görülmüştür. Fedakârlık yerine özveri, acıma yerine şefkat ve öz şefkat, tahammül yerine aktif sabır, yaratıcı ile sevgi ve güven bağı kurma ,affetme ,kaybetme yerine ruhun ölümsüzlüğü, iki dünya inancı gibi olumlu manevi baş etme yöntemlerine ihtiyaçlar duydukları saptanmıştır.
This study examined the profiles of 437 South Korean high school students, defined by their scores on four subscales of perfectionism (i.e., organisation, personal standards, concern for mistakes, and doubts about actions) from a person‐centered perspective. We then assessed the mean differences across class memberships in the levels of task disengagement, test anxiety, and depression. Latent profile analysis identified four distinct profiles of individuals: non‐perfectionist, average‐mixed perfectionist, adaptive perfectionist, and high‐mixed perfectionist. Adaptive perfectionists exhibited the most adaptive features across academic and psychological indicators, whereas high‐mixed perfectionists exhibited the most maladaptive features. Compared with adaptive perfectionists, non‐perfectionists and average‐mixed perfectionists pursued mastery goals to a lesser extent, leading to increased task disengagement and depression. Implications for the role of mastery goals in designing interventions to support students' efforts to engage in tasks and decrease test anxiety and depression were suggested. Directions for future research were also discussed.
Celem projektu było zbadanie potencjalnych związków, występujących między troską duchową, samowspółczuciem, współczuciem wobec innych i przebaczeniem dyspozycyjnym u osób duchownych. Zweryfikowano mediacyjną rolę samowspółczucia i współczucia innym w relacji między troską duchową a dyspozycją do przebaczenia. W badaniu wzięły udział 183 osoby duchowne. Wykorzystano następujące narzędzia: Kwestionariusz Troski Duchowej, Skala Współczucia dla Samego Siebie, Skala Współczucia dla Innych oraz Skala Przebaczenia. Analizy korelacyjne wykazały pozytywne, istotne statystycznie, związki między troską duchową i przebaczeniem dyspozycyjnym, jak również między współczuciem sobie i innym a przebaczeniem i troską duchową. Ponadto, dzięki analizom mediacyjnym, stwierdzono, iż zarówno samowspółczucie, jak i współczucie innym pełniły funkcję mediacyjną w relacji troski duchowej i przebaczenia dyspozycyjnego u osób duchownych.
Gaslighting is an understudied form of psychological violence aimed to reduce victims’ autonomy, decision-making ability, security, and belief in their own perceptions. Although it leads to negative psychological, relational, and health consequences, few studies have examined the protective variables of this form of violence. The present study aims to analyze the role of self-compassion and social support (from family, friends, and significant others) in predicting gaslighting experiences, psychological health, and eudaimonic well-being among young Italian women. The mediational role of the gaslighting experience was examined. Participants (251 women, mean age = 38.72) completed an online survey assessing the variables of interest. Path analysis showed that participants’ self-compassion and perceived social support from family and significant others (but not one from friends) were negatively and significantly associated with gaslighting experience. Gaslighting experience emerged as a significant and negative predictor of both psychological health and eudaimonic well-being. Gaslighting experience partially mediated the relationship among self-compassion and both psychological health and eudaimonic well-being, and totally mediated the association among perceived social support (from family and from significant others) and both psychological health and eudaimonic well-being. This is one of the few studies that allowed to identify the important role of some interpersonal (i.e., social support) and intrapersonal (i.e., self-compassion) factors in predicting gaslighting experience. Our findings could be useful in designing preventive programs aimed to increase women’s abilities to cope with the potential manipulative intentions of their partner with positive consequences on their health and well-being.
Background
Cancer among young adults (18-39 years) is relatively rare, but remains a leading cause of disability, morbidity, and mortality. Identifying strategies to support young adults’ health following a diagnosis of cancer is important. Yoga may enhance health and could be delivered by videoconference. However, little research exploring yoga, and no research exploring videoconference delivery of yoga has been conducted with this cohort. We worked with young adults affected by cancer and developed, piloted, and refined a yoga intervention delivered by videoconference.
Objective
To evaluate our yoga intervention in a full-scale, mixed methods, single-arm, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.
Methods
Young adults 18 years or older, diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18-39 years of age, and at any stage along the cancer trajectory are eligible. Participants receive 2 yoga classes/week over 12-weeks by videoconference and complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Assessments include self-reported questionnaires (ie, stress, yoga barriers, physical activity behaviour, fatigue, cognition, cancer-related symptoms, general health, health-related quality of life, self-compassion, mindfulness, group identification), physical assessments (ie, aerobic endurance, flexibility, range of motion, balance, functional mobility), and a semi-structured interview (post-intervention only; exploring perceptions of acceptability, feasibility, and experiences). Quality improvement cycles occur every 6 months. Repeated measures analysis of variance will be conducted to explore effectiveness, descriptive statistics and responder/non-responder analyses will be used to explore implementation, and qualitative interview data, analyzed using content analysis and reflexive thematic analysis, will bolster effectiveness and implementation findings.
Discussion
As the first full-scale trial to evaluate yoga delivered by videoconference for this cohort, findings will make substantial contributions to young adults' supportive cancer care.
Conclusion
This protocol, reporting on yoga delivered by videoconference for young adults diagnosed with cancer, will enhance transparency and reproducibility and provide a reference for forthcoming trial results.
Trial registration
NCT05314803 at clinicaltrials.gov .
Background
This paper describes the development of the Self‐Care Autonomy in Health Scale for Late Adolescents (SAHSLA) for use with general samples. It addresses concerns regarding the nonclinical efficacy of self‐care health scales for adolescents, particularly their ability to discriminate between lower levels of self‐care.
Methods
A survey was constructed based on literature review and subsequently evaluated in two studies. Parents ( N = 57, 53 parents of girls, 4 of boys, M age = 15.96) participated in Study 1, which investigated the internal with Cronbach's alpha and coefficient omega ( ω ), and convergent validity with regard to adolescent age. In Study 2, the SAHSLA scores of adolescents ( N = 339, 268 girls, 73 boys, M age = 15.87) were examined using confirmatory factor and convergent validity analyses in relation to age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption patterns, and self‐compassion assessments.
Results
In Study 1, the scale total and a child's age did not substantially correlate. Both omega and alpha were moderate. Study 2 revealed a two‐factor model with physical and psychological components. There were minor yet statistically significant associations found between self‐judgement and psychological SAHSLA. Physical SAHSLA was not connected with age, overidentification, isolation or self‐judgement, but it was statistically strongly correlated with total self‐compassion.
Conclusions
The scale and study findings can be applied to health monitoring and interventions in schools and adolescent campaigns aimed at alcohol‐ and tobacco‐use cessation.
The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of self-forgiveness and self-compassion among taekwondo athletes as an approach to training and performance improvement based on a number of variables. Through convenience sampling, 532 taekwondo athletes (246 females, 286 males) were selected. Data were collected using the Self-Forgiveness Scale developed by Griffin Worthington et al. (2018) and adapted to Turkish by Kaya et al. (2021), and the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form adapted to Turkish by Yıldırım and Sarı (2018). The distribution of the participants's background information was displayed using descriptive statistics (e.g., percentages and frequencies) and skewness-kurtosis values were checked for normality. In addition to descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used due to the non-normality of the data. Participants' self-forgiveness levels varied significantly by gender, age, athletic background, and category. No significant differences were found in the sub dimensions of SFDPS and SCS based on previous injuries (p>0.05). A discussion on the study's limitations took place, and suggestions for future research were provided.
Background
Many people who engage in non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) do not access support from health services, and evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions is mixed. Despite this, NSSI prevalence rates decrease from adolescence into adulthood. Little is known about what helps alleviate difficulties with NSSI beyond psychological or medical intervention. This study sought to understand factors influencing naturalistic improvements in NSSI.
Methods
Semi‐structured interviews were conducted over video call with 16 participants who believed their difficulties with NSSI had improved due to factors not attributed to psychological or medical intervention. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis.
Results
A reflexive thematic analysis revealed four main themes. Increased insight into NSSI experiences promoted self‐compassion and self‐acceptance and enabled participants to reflect on the conflicting role of NSSI. Safe and supportive relationships helped alleviate loneliness, and developing alternative coping strategies enhanced feelings of control over self‐injury. Creating a life guided by personal values promoted independence, choice, and self‐esteem.
Conclusions
The findings of the study highlight several internal and external naturalistic processes deemed meaningful in improving difficulties with NSSI. Clinical implications include the importance of developing and embedding these approaches within services and interventions to improve outcomes for individuals who self‐injure while promoting a person‐centred approach.
Background
The recovery process for young women with breast cancer is influenced by several factors, including the uncertainty of disease, posttraumatic growth, and self-compassion.
Objective
To examine the association between illness uncertainty and posttraumatic growth in young women with breast cancer and to determine the mediating role of self-compassion in this association.
METHODS
This cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study was conducted in Western Turkey between September 2023 and December 2023. Data were collected from 153 young women with breast cancer using the demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale—Community, and the Self-compassion Scale.
RESULTS
Posttraumatic growth was negatively correlated with illness uncertainty ( r = −0.304, P < .001) and positively correlated with self-compassion ( r = 0.581, P < .001). Illness uncertainty negatively predicted posttraumatic growth ( P < .001), whereas self-compassion positively predicted posttraumatic growth ( P < .001). When self-compassion was included in the model, the effect of illness uncertainty on posttraumatic growth became insignificant ( P > .05).
Conclusion
Results of the study indicate that self-compassion has a fully mediating effect on the relationship between illness uncertainty and posttraumatic growth in young women with breast cancer.
Implications for Practice
Psychosocial care of young women with breast cancer by oncology nurses can significantly improve self-compassion, reduce illness uncertainty, and promote posttraumatic growth.
Purpose:
Social work is an intrinsically challenging profession, with high levels of distress and burnout reported amongst professionals. Self-compassion has been suggested as a coping resource that may benefit social workers and reduce levels of distress. There is reason to believe that low self-compassion may confer a vulnerability in social workers, particularly student social workers. The current review aimed to examine how reported levels of self-compassion in social workers compare to the general population and how they compare between qualified and student social workers. Additionally, this review explored the relationship between self-compassion and age, sex/gender, psychological distress, and work-related psychological wellbeing within social workers.
Materials and methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted using APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Medline. Twenty-nine articles met inclusion criteria and were assessed for risk of bias. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize the results.
Results:
The meta-analysis found that qualified social workers reported significantly higher levels of self-compassion than student social workers and published general population estimates, although heterogeneity was high. There was some evidence to suggest that levels of self-compassion are related to age, but not to sex/gender. Self-compassion was significantly negatively correlated with psychological distress.
Discussion and conclusion:
The tentative conclusion that qualified social workers may report relatively high levels of self-compassion is encouraging, given the evidenced negative relationship with psychological distress. Given student social workers appear to report lower levels of self-compassion, they may benefit from interventions/support to bolster it, although systemic factors influencing wellbeing must also be considered.
Throughout life, individuals encounter many different upsetting events. The concepts of psychological resilience and mindfulness come to the fore in the situations encountered. The dynamics of these concepts and the extent to which they are related to loneliness and problematic TikTok use demonstrate the importance of the research. The aim of this study was to test the mediating role of problematic TikTok use and loneliness in the relationship between mindfulness and psychological resilience in adolescents. In the study, Mindfulness Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, and Problematic TikTok Use Scale were administered to 354 students (236 girls and 118 boys) with an average age of 14.7 years who were studying in different high schools in Turkey. The data were tested using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling analyses. The results of the study showed that problematic TikTok use and loneliness had a partial mediating role in the relationship between mindfulness and psychological resilience in adolescents. In the model with serial mediation, it was concluded that individuals with high levels of mindfulness had low levels of loneliness and problematic TikTok use and high levels of psychological resilience. Mindfulness predicts psychological resilience directly and indirectly through problematic TikTok use and loneliness. This situation can be interpreted as the impairment of psychological resilience, the level of mindfulness can be impaired by TikTok use and individuals can become lonely. This result was discussed in the light of theoretical and empirical data.
It was hypothesized that women are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms than men because they are more likely to experience chronic negative circumstances (or strain), to have a low sense of mastery, and to engage in ruminative coping. The hypotheses were tested in a 2-wave study of approximately 1,100 community-based adults who were 25 to 75 years old. Chronic strain, low mastery, and rumination were each more common in women than in men and mediated the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Rumination amplified the effects of mastery and, to some extent, chronic strain on depressive symptoms. In addition, chronic strain and rumination had reciprocal effects on each other over time, and low mastery also contributed to more rumination. Finally, depressive symptoms contributed to more rumination and less mastery over time.
Two independent types of experiences of depression have been identified among normals—dependency and self-criticism. Using the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, this study investigates their utility in differentiating depression in patients. 197 patients (mean age 34 yrs) and 262 normal controls (mean age 26.7 yrs) also completed the MMPI, Beck Depression Inventory, and Self Rating Depression Scale. There were consistent differences among patients as a function of whether their experiences of depression focused primarily on issues of dependency and/or self-criticism or an absence of these issues. The subjective experiences around which an individual's depression focuses seem to provide a valid basis for differentiating among types of depression. Judges using case records were able to differentiate patients who were high on dependency or self-criticism, on both, or on neither of these dimensions. The distinction between these 2 different foci of depression may provide valuable differentiations for clinical research, and have important implications for the therapeutic process with different types of depressed patients. (55 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Examines the classroom learning environment in relation to achievement goal theory of motivation. Classroom structures are described in terms of how they make different types of achievement goals salient and as a consequence elicit qualitatively different patterns of motivation. Task, evaluation and recognition, and authority dimensions of classrooms are presented as examples of structures that can influence children's orientation toward different achievement goals. Central to the thesis of this article is a perspective that argues for an identification of classroom structures that can contribute to a mastery orientation, a systematic analysis of these structures, and a determination of how these structures relate to each other. The ways in which interventions must address the independency among these structures are discussed in terms of how they influence student motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This study examines the relationships among hostility, grandiosity, dominance, narcissism, and self-esteem in samples of 84, 57, and 300 Ss. The intercorrelations among various self-report and observer ratings of these constructs suggest that (1) hostility, grandiosity, dominance, and narcissism are substantially intercorrelated and form a coherent system of constructs and (2) the common variance in this system of constructs significantly predicts variations in Ss' self-esteem. The notion that some people use grandiosity, dominance, and a more generalized narcissistic personality style to manage their hostility and maintain a sense of positive regard was evaluated using hierarchical analyses. The results of these analyses were consistent with this model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Four studies demonstrate the psychometric adequacy and validity of scales designed to assess coping through emotional approach. In separate undergraduate samples, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of dispositional (Study 1) and situational (Study 3) coping item sets yielded 2 distinct emotional approach coping factors: emotional processing (i.e., active attempts to acknowledge and understand emotions) and emotional expression. The 2 scales yielded high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as convergent and discriminant validity. A study (Study 2) of young adults and their parents established the scales' interjudge reliabilities. Longitudinal (Study 3) and experimental (Study 4) research supported the predictive validity of the emotional approach coping scales with regard to adjustment to stressful encounters. Findings highlight the utility of functionalist theories of emotion as applied to coping theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Examined both employee and supervisor reports of motivational and work adjustment variables, in the context of a psychiatric rehabilitation program, as correlates of program participation and independent ratings of readiness for competitive employment. Ss were 80 employees (aged 21–75 yrs) in a sheltered workshop and transitional employment program affiliated with a state psychiatric hospital. Program participation and work-readiness were associated with both employee and supervisor ratings of motivation after controlling for employee benefit plan, residential status, and social adjustment. Additionally, the degree of supervisor–employee discrepancy in these ratings was negatively correlated with program participation, work-readiness, and estimates of premorbid social competence. The role of motivational factors in vocational rehabilitation and the dynamics of supervisor and employee perceptions of work motivation and adjustment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Reviews the literature on sex differences in empathy (defined as vicarious affective responding to the emotional state of another) and related capacities (affective role taking and decoding of nonverbal cues). The literature is discussed according to method used to assess empathy and affective role taking. Where appropriate, meta-analyses were also computed. In general, sex differences in empathy were found to be a function of the methods used to assess empathy. There was a large sex difference favoring women when the measure of empathy was self-report scales; moderate differences (favoring females) were found for reflexive crying and self-report measures in laboratory situations; and no sex differences were evident when the measure of empathy was either physiological or unobtrusive observations of nonverbal reactions to another's emotional state. Moreover, few sex differences were found for children's affective role taking and decoding abilities. (156 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Responds to comments by A. C. Bohart and T Greening, S. B. Shapiro, G. Bacigalupe, R. Walsh, W. C. Compton, C. L. McLafferty and J. D. Kirylo, N. Abi-Hashem, A. C. Catania, G. K. Lampropoulos, and T. M. Kelley (see records
2002-15384-010,
2002-15384-011,
2002-15384-012,
2002-15384-013,
2002-15384-014,
2002-15384-015,
2002-15384-016,
2002-15384-017,
2002-15384-018, and
2002-15384-019, respectively) on the January 2000, Vol 55(1) special issue of the
American Psychologist dedicated to positive psychology. M. E. P. Seligman and M. Csikszentmihalyi expand on some of the critical themes discussed in the commentaries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Social connectedness and its relationship with anxiety, self-esteem, and social identity was explored in the lives of women. Social connectedness was negatively related to trait anxiety and made a larger unique contribution to trait anxiety than social support or collective self-esteem. Women with high connectedness also reported greater social identification in high, as compared with low, cohesion conditions. Women with low connectedness exhibited no difference in either condition. Social connectedness was also positively related to state self-esteem across both conditions but did not have an effect on state anxiety. Future research in gender and cultural differences, self-evaluation process, and intervention strategies are discussed in light of the findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Discusses 3 distances from emotion: (1) Hysterical emotion is underdistanced, involving the "return of the repressed." (2) Overdistancing signals the success of repression; one acts as if one were merely an observer, not a participant, as in unresolved grief. (3) At optimal or aesthetic distance, one is simultaneously and equally a participant and an observer. The patient has a double vision; at this point, repression is lifted, and the emotion can be managed. Catharsis may occur. In psychotherapy influenced by psychoanalytic theory, the therapist does seem to actively modulate the patient's distance from her/his emotions, but generally on a session-to-session basis. It is proposed that the therapist modulate on a moment-to-moment basis to produce more rapid change and less interference in the patient's life. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The study developed 2 measures of belongingness based on H. Kohut's (1984) self psychology theory. The Social Connectedness Scale and the Social Assurance Scale were constructed with a split-sample procedure on 626 college students. Internal reliability estimates for the 2 scales were .91 and .82, respectively. Test-retest correlations revealed good test stability over a 2-week period (
rs = .96 and .84, respectively). Cross-validation for the 2 measures was achieved with confirmatory factor analysis with an incremental fit index greater than .90. Scale functions are described and results are discussed in light of current research and theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Mindfulness is proposed as a core psychotherapy process. It is defined as a state of psychological freedom that occurs when attention remains quiet and limber, without attachment to any particular point of view. It can be shown that this process is collaborativefy employed by psychotherapist and patient within all psychotherapy orientations, and also by the integrative psychotherapist when making optimal choices among orientations. This article addresses (1) the defining attributes of mindfulness, (2) relevant conceptual approaches that lend theoretical support for a mindfulness factor, (3) two attentional forms of mindfulness that seem to have particular correspondence with either psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy, (4) clinical applications, and (5) the role of mindfulness for the integrative decision-making process.
Two studies tested the hypothesis that women are more likely than men to focus on themselves and their mood when in a depressed mood, and that this leads them to experience longer periods of depressed mood. In both studies subjects were predominantly Caucasian college students. In our first study, a laboratory study, females chose to engage in an emotion-related task significantly more often than did males, even when this lead them to focus on an existing sad mood. In the second study, a prospective naturalistic study, females were more likely than males to evince an emotion-focused ruminative style of coping with their moods. A ruminative response style at Time 1 was a significant predictor of depression scores at Time 2, even after initial levels of depressed mood were taken into account. Furthermore, once rumination levels were controlled for, gender was no longer a potent predictor of depression outcome. The implications of these response styles for treatment are discussed.
The 3 major self-evaluation motives were compared: self-assessment (people pursue accurate self-knowledge), self-enhancement (people pursue favorable self-knowledge), and self-verification (people pursue highly certain self-knowledge). Ss considered the possession of personality traits that were either positive or negative and either central or peripheral by asking themselves questions that varied in diagnosticity (the extent to which the questions could discriminate between a trait and its alternative) and in confirmation value (the extent to which the questions confirmed possession of a trait). Ss selected higher diagnosticity questions when evaluating themselves on central positive rather than central negative traits and confirmed possession of their central positive rather than central negative traits. The self-enhancement motive emerged as the most powerful determinant of the self-evaluation process, followed by the self-verification motive.
This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a group stress reduction program based on mindfulness meditation for patients with anxiety disorders.
The 22 study participants were screened with a structured clinical interview and found to meet the DSM-III-R criteria for generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Assessments, including self-ratings and therapists' ratings, were obtained weekly before and during the meditation-based stress reduction and relaxation program and monthly during the 3-month follow-up period.
Repeated measures analyses of variance documented significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores after treatment for 20 of the subjects--changes that were maintained at follow-up. The number of subjects experiencing panic symptoms was also substantially reduced. A comparison of the study subjects with a group of nonstudy participants in the program who met the initial screening criteria for entry into the study showed that both groups achieved similar reductions in anxiety scores on the SCL-90-R and on the Medical Symptom Checklist, suggesting generalizability of the study findings.
A group mindfulness meditation training program can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic and can help maintain these reductions in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or panic disorder with agoraphobia.
Measures of emotional health and styles of responding to negative moods were obtained for 137 students 14 days before the Loma Prieta earthquake. A follow-up was done 10 days again 7 weeks after the earthquake to test predictions about which of the students would show the most enduring symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress. Regression analysis showed that students who, before the earthquake, already had elevated levels of depression and stress symptoms and a ruminative style of responding to their symptoms had more depression and stress symptoms for both follow-ups. Students who were exposed to more dangerous or difficult circumstances because of the earthquake also had elevated symptom levels 10 days after the earthquake. Similarly, students who, during the 10 days after the earthquake, had more ruminations about the earthquake were still more likely to have high levels of depressive and stress symptoms 7 weeks after the earthquake.
Many prominent theorists have argued that accurate perceptions of the self, the world, and the future are essential for mental health. Yet considerable research evidence suggests that overly positive self-evaluations, exaggerated perceptions of control or mastery, and unrealistic optimism are characteristic of normal human thought. Moreover, these illusions appear to promote other criteria of mental health, including the ability to care about others, the ability to be happy or contented, and the ability to engage in productive and creative work. These strategies may succeed, in large part, because both the social world and cognitive-processing mechanisms impose filters on incoming information that distort it in a positive direction; negative information may be isolated and represented in as unthreatening a manner as possible. These positive illusions may be especially useful when an individual receives negative feedback or is otherwise threatened and may be especially adaptive under these circumstances.
We examined the internal and external validity of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Study 1 explored the internal structure of the NPI responses of 1,018 subjects. Using principal-components analysis, we analyzed the tetrachoric correlations among the NPI item responses and found evidence for a general construct of narcissism as well as seven first-order components, identified as Authority, Exhibitionism, Superiority, Vanity, Exploitativeness, Entitlement, and Self-Sufficiency. Study 2 explored the NPI's construct validity with respect to a variety of indexes derived from observational and self-report data in a sample of 57 subjects. Study 3 investigated the NPI's construct validity with respect to 128 subject's self and ideal self-descriptions, and their congruency, on the Leary Interpersonal Check List. The results from Studies 2 and 3 tend to support the construct validity of the full-scale NPI and its component scales.
The tendency for people with high self-esteem to make inflated assessments and predictions about themselves carries the risk of making commitments that exceed capabilities, thus leading to failure. Ss chose their performance contingencies in a framework where larger rewards were linked to a greater risk of failure. In the absence of ego threat, Ss with high self-esteem showed superior self-regulation: They set appropriate goals and performed effectively. Ego threat, however, caused Ss with high self-esteem to set inappropriate, risky goals that were beyond their performance capabilities so they ended up with smaller rewards than Ss with low self-esteem. The results indicate the danger of letting egotistical illusions interfere with self-regulation processes.
This study evaluated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a group intervention designed to train recovered recurrently depressed patients to disengage from dysphoria-activated depressogenic thinking that may mediate relapse/recurrence. Recovered recurrently depressed patients (n = 145) were randomized to continue with treatment as usual or, in addition, to receive MBCT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over a 60-week study period. For patients with 3 or more previous episodes of depression (77% of the sample), MBCT significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence. For patients with only 2 previous episodes, MBCT did not reduce relapse/recurrence. MBCT offers a promising cost-efficient psychological approach to preventing relapse/recurrence in recovered recurrently depressed patients.
The authors provide a definition of positive psychology and suggest that psychologists should try to cultivate a more appreciative perspective on human nature. Examples are given of a negative bias that seems to pervade much of theoretical psychology, which may limit psychologists' understanding of typical and successful human functioning. Finally, a preview of the articles in the special section is given.
A science of positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions promises to improve quality of life and prevent the pathologies that arise when life is barren and meaningless. The exclusive focus on pathology that has dominated so much of our discipline results in a model of the human being lacking the positive features that make life worth living. Hope, wisdom, creativity, future mindedness, courage, spirituality, responsibility, and perseverance are ignored or explained as transformations of more authentic negative impulses. The 15 articles in this millennial issue of the American Psychologist discuss such issues as what enables happiness, the effects of autonomy and self-regulation, how optimism and hope affect health, what constitutes wisdom, and how talent and creativity come to fruition. The authors outline a framework for a science of positive psychology, point to gaps in our knowledge, and predict that the next century will see a science and profession that will come to understand and build the factors that allow individuals, communities, and societies to flourish.
Raymond M. Bergner offers the first comprehensive reference to address the highly prevalent and debilitating forms of self-criticism. This resource features an extensive array of strategies for assessing these patterns as well as the factors maintaining them. In addition, the volume is complete with therapeutic intervention strategies to help patients abandon pathological self-critical practices. The author desribes a therapeutic relationship that greatly enchances the efficacy of the interventions mentioned throughout the book.
Over and over, investigators have found self-esteem to be central in a broad network of constructs associated with motivation, performance, and well-being. Esteeming oneself—thinking well of oneself—has often been found to relate to more effective behavior and better adjustment than has low self-regard.
The difficulties inherent in obtaining consistent and adequate diagnoses for the purposes of research and therapy have been pointed out by a number of authors. Pasamanick12 in a recent article viewed the low interclinician agreement on diagnosis as an indictment of the present state of psychiatry and called for "the development of objective, measurable and verifiable criteria of classification based not on personal or parochial considerations, but on behavioral and other objectively measurable manifestations."Attempts by other investigators to subject clinical observations and judgments to objective measurement have resulted in a wide variety of psychiatric rating scales.4,15 These have been well summarized in a review article by Lorr11 on "Rating Scales and Check Lists for the Evaluation of Psychopathology." In the area of psychological testing, a variety of paper-and-pencil tests have been devised for the purpose of measuring specific
This article presents a framework for emotional intelligence, a set of skills hypothesized to contribute to the accurate appraisal and expression of emotion in oneself and in others, the effective regulation of emotion in self and others, and the use of feelings to motivate, plan, and achieve in one's life. We start by reviewing the debate about the adaptive versus maladaptive qualities of emotion. We then explore the literature on intelligence, and especially social intelligence, to examine the place of emotion in traditional intelligence conceptions. A framework for integrating the research on emotion-related skills is then described. Next, we review the components of emotional intelligence. To conclude the review, the role of emotional intelligence in mental health is discussed and avenues for further investigation are suggested.
A meta-analysis examined the relation between self-esteem and ingroup bias. The project focused on effects of ingroup bias strategy and measurement of self-esteem. Results indicated that high-self-esteem individuals exhibited more ingroup bias than did low-self-esteem individuals. Bias strategy and self-esteem measurement moderated this relation. When using “direct” ingroup bias strategies, high-self-esteem individuals showed more bias than did low-self-esteem individuals. When using “indirect” strategies, groups exhibited comparable amounts of bias. Results were comparable for collective and personal self-esteem measures. Examination of specific collective measures indicated that self-esteem defined by the Collective Self-Esteem Scale (Luhtanen & Crocker, 1992) did not predict differences in ingroup bias, whereas group identification measures did predict differences in ingroup bias. Results are interpreted as indicating that both high and low-self-esteem individuals exhibit ingroup bias; however, expression of ingroup bias by individuals with low self-esteem is constrained by situational factors. Furthermore, individual-level factors such as personal self-esteem may be useful in predicting collective enhancement.
There is growing interest in positive aspects of the stress process, including positive outcomes of stress and antecedents that dispose individuals to appraise stressful situations more as a challenge than as a threat. Less attention has been given to the adaptational significance of positive emotions during stress or to the coping processes that sustain positive emotions. We review evidence for the occurrence of positive emotions under conditions of stress, discuss the functional role that positive emotions play under such conditions, and present three types of coping that are associated with positive emotion during chronic stress. These findings point to new research questions about the role of positive emotions during stress and the nature of the coping processes that generate these positive emotions.
A practical difficulty with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS) is its length. Preferring a shorter measure of social desirability, researchers have devised a number of short forms of the SDS. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis to establish the adequacy of these subscales in measuring social desirability. Results showed that (a) of the six short forms of SDS considered two models (XI and X2) provide the best measures of social desirability, (b) improved measures of all of the models can be constructed, and (c) improved measures of the dimensions, denial and attribution, thought to measure the latent construct of social approval can also be constructed.
This article defines and examines the construct of self-compassion. Self-compassion entails three main components: (a) self-kindness—being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical, (b) common humanity—perceiving one's experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as separating and isolating, and (c) mindfulness—holding painful thoughts and feelings in balanced awareness rather than over-identifying with them. Self-compassion is an emotionally positive self-attitude that should protect against the negative consequences of self-judgment, isolation, and rumination (such as depression). Because of its non-evaluative and interconnected nature, it should also counter the tendencies towards narcissism, self-centeredness, and downward social comparison that have been associated with attempts to maintain self-esteem. The relation of self-compassion to other psychological constructs is examined, its links to psychological functioning are explored, and potential group differences in self-compassion are discussed.
Achievement behavior in schools can be understood best in terms of students' attempts to maintain a positive self-image. For many students, expending effort is scary because a combination of effort and failure implies low ability. Students have a variety of techniques for avoiding failure, ranging from cheating to setting goals that are so easily achieved that no risk is involved. Although teachers usually reward achievement and punish lack of effort, for many students risking the sense of defeat that comes from trying hard and not succeeding is too daunting. In "Making the grade," Martin Covington extracts powerful educational implications from self-worth theory and other contemporary views that will be useful for educators, parents, and all people concerned with the educational dilemmas we face. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The authors factor analyzed 4 self-report parental attachment (PA) inventories (the PBI, IPPA, PAQ, and CAS) designed for use with young adults to examine the construct validity of scores from these instruments and the overall factor structure of the attachment scales. The aim was to replicate the G. E. Heiss et al (1996) findings with a more specific focus on PA as opposed to general attachment style. The authors also evaluated whether factors derived from the 4 attachment measures were related to measures of emotional functioning, specifically, measures of confidence in coping with negative mood, awareness of one's own mood regulation strategies, and levels of perceived stress. Data were collected from 200 undergraduates (mean age 21.6 yrs; 60% female). The exploration of the relationships among the attachment measures showed several dimensions of attachment in young adults, including maternal attachment, paternal attachment, and parental overprotection. Preoccupation with one's parents was also assessed by 1 of the attachment measures and was reflected as a distinct dimension of attachment. The findings that these dimensions of PA were related to emotional functioning and levels of perceived stress provide evidence of the role of attachment in the well-being of young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
review evidence regarding experiences during childhood contributing to the development of an orientation that might predispose an individual to depression / emphasis is on early dysregulation of the "moral" emotions, particularly in females / concentrate on sex differences in empathy and guilt in children, as well as research on the socialization of these phenomena / by adopting a developmental perspective, it may be possible to identify characteristics of girls, along with familial and cultural pressures and practices directed toward them (especially related to sex role characteristics) that enhance their vulnerability to internalizing problems [i.e., depression]
theories pertaining to gender differences in depression / sex differences in moral patterns / socialization of moral patterns (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
A traditional view holds that low self-esteem causes ag- gression, but recent work has not confirmed this. Although aggressive people typically have high self-esteem, there are also many nonaggressive people with high self-esteem, and so newer constructs such as narcissism and unstable self- esteem are most effective at predicting aggression. The link between self-regard and ag- gression is best captured by the theory of threatened egotism, which depicts aggression as a means of defending a highly favorable view of self against someone who seeks to under- mine or discredit that view. vided strong empirical evidence that low self-esteem causes aggres- sion. Ironically, the theory seemed to enter into conventional wisdom without ever being empirically es- tablished. The view of low self-esteem that has emerged from many research studies does not, however, seem easily reconciled with the theory that low self-esteem causes aggres- sion. A composite of research find- ings depicts people with low self- esteem as uncertain and confused about themselves, oriented toward avoiding risk and potential loss, shy, modest, emotionally labile (and having tendencies toward de- pression and anxiety), submitting readily to other people's influence, and lacking confidence in them- selves (see compilation by Bau- meister, 1993). None of these patterns seems likely to increase aggression, and some of them seem likely to dis- courage it. People with low self- esteem are oriented toward avoid- ing risk and loss, whereas attacking someone is eminently risky. People with low self-esteem lack confi- dence of success, whereas aggres- sion is usually undertaken in the expectation of defeating the other person. Low self-esteem involves submitting to influence, whereas aggression is often engaged in to resist and reject external influence. Perhaps most relevant, people with low self-esteem are confused and uncertain about who they are,
This diary study examined the proposal that satisfaction of two psychological needs, competence and autonomy, leads to daily well-being. Between-subjects analyses indicated that participants higher in trait competence and trait autonomy tended to have "better" days on average. Independently, within-subject analyses showed that good days were those in which participants felt more competent and autonomous in their daily activities, relative to their own baselines. Other predictors of daily well-being included gender, whether the day fell on a weekend, and the amount of negative affect and physical symptomatology felt the day before. Although past diary studies have tended to focus on threats to daily well-being, the authors suggest that psychological need concepts offer promise for understanding its positive sources.
This paper describes the development and validation of a general causality orientations scale. Causality orientations are conceptualized as relatively enduring aspects of people that characterize the source of initiation and regulation, and thus the degree of self-determination, of their behavior. Three orientations—autonomy, control, and impersonal—are measured by the three subscales of the instrument. Individuals are given a score on each orientation, thus allowing the use of the theoretically appropriate subscale (or, in some cases, a combination of subscales) to predict affects, cognitions, and behaviors. The scale was shown to have internal consistency and temporal stability. The orientations were shown to fit appropriately into a nomological network of constructs and to relate to various behaviors that were hypothesized to be theoretically relevant.
Research studies focusing on the psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) with psychiatric and nonpsychiatric samples were reviewed for the years 1961 through June, 1986. A meta-analysis of the BDI's internal consistency estimates yielded a mean coefficient alpha of 0.86 for psychiatric patients and 0.81 for nonpsychiatric subjects. The concurrent validitus of the BDI with respect to clinical ratings and the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) were also high. The mean correlations of the BDI samples with clinical ratings and the HRSD were 0. 72 and 0.73, respectively, for psychiatric patients. With nonpsychiatric subjects, the mean correlations of the BDI with clinical ratings and the HRSD were 0.60 and 0.74, respectively. Recent evidence indicates that the BDI discriminates subtypes of depression and differentiates depression from anxiety.
Investigated depression as a normal affect state that could have continuity with types of clinical depression. A 66-item Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) was constructed to assess a wide range of experiences that, though not direct symptoms of depression, are frequently associated with it. The DEQ, the Wessman-Ricks Mood Scale, a version of the semantic differential, and the Death-Concern Questionnaire were administered to 500 female and 160 male college students. In another sample, 128 college students were given the DEQ and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Three highly stable factors emerged from the DEQ: Dependency, Self-Criticism, and Efficacy. These factors had significant differential correlations with other measures, which support the interpretation of the factors derived from the items. These data indicate the need to consider dependency and self-criticism as 2 primary dimensions of depression and the value of investigating the continuity between normal mood states and the clinical phenomena of depressions. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Several questions concerning the relation between self-focused attention and depressed mood were examined: (a) Does the association involve global negative affect, rather than sadness per se? (b) is self-focus associated with specific negative affects other than sadness? and (c) does the association occur at the between-subjects or within-subject level? Also hypothesized was that self-focus is associated with coping responses that may perpetuate negative mood. In an idiographic/nomothetic design, 40 male community residents completed daily reports for 30 days. Results suggest that self-focus is linked with global negative mood as well as specific negative affects other than sadness and that the association occurs on a between-persons, rather than a day-to-day within-person, basis. In addition, highly self-focused men reported using passive and ruminative coping styles, which in turn were associated with distressed affect.
The rate at which medical patients physician-referred to an 8-week stress reduction program completed the prescribed intervention was measured and predictors of compliance sought. Seven hundred eighty-four consecutive patients who enrolled in the program over a 2-year period were studied. Of these, 598 (76%) completed the program and 186 (24%) did not. Multiple regression analysis showed that (1) among chronic pain patients, only sex discriminated between completers and noncompleters, with females more than twice as likely to complete the program as males (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2, 4.4); (2) among patients with stress-related disorders, only the OC scores of the SCL-90-R discriminated between completers and noncompleters (odds ratio = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2, 3.4). Completion rates for specific diagnoses are reported and discussed. The high rate of completion observed for this intensive program in health behavior change is discussed in terms of the design features and therapeutic modalities of the intervention.
Self-reported narcissism, self-esteem, and perceptions of parents as nurturing were examined in a sample of 459 undergraduates. In zero-order and partial correlations, dimensions from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory displayed inter-relationships and linkages with self-esteem and parental nurturance that conformed with the hypothesis that indices of narcissism fall along a continuum of mental health. Partial correlations controlling for self-esteem also indicated that at least some data for the more adaptive aspects of narcissism were mediated by healthier self-functioning. These results support recent suggestions that narcissism must be conceptualized within frameworks that include healthy self-esteem.
We conducted several tests of the idea that an inclination toward thought suppression is associated with obsessive thinking and emotional reactivity. Initially, we developed a self-report measure of thought suppression through successive factor-analytic procedures and found that it exhibited acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability. This measure, the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), was found to correlate with measures of obsessional thinking and depressive and anxious affect, to predict signs of clinical obsession among individuals prone toward obsessional thinking, to predict depression among individuals motivated to dislike negative thoughts, and to predict failure of electrodermal responses to habituate among people having emotional thoughts. The WBSI was inversely correlated with repression as assessed by the Repression-Sensitization Scale, and so taps a trait that is quite unlike repression as traditionally conceived.
The White Bear Suppression Inventory [WBSI; Wegner, D.M. & Zanakos, S. (1994), Journal of Personality, 62, 615-640] is a self-report questionnaire measuring people's general tendency to suppress unwanted negative thoughts. The current article describes two studies investigating the reliability, factor structure, validity, and correlates of the WBSI. Study 1 (n = 172) showed that the WBSI is a reliable instrument in terms of internal consistency and test-retest stability. Factor analyses of the WBSI revealed a 1-factor solution. Furthermore, the WBSI was found to correlate positively with measures of emotional vulnerability and psychopathological symptoms. In Study 2 (n = 40), the relationship between WBSI and levels of intrusive thinking was examined in more detail, using a thought suppression task. In general, results of this thought suppression experiment provided evidence for the validity of the WBSI. That is, subjects with high WBSI scores exhibited higher frequencies of unwanted intrusive thoughts than subjects with low WBSI scores.
It was hypothesized that women are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms than men because they are more likely to experience chronic negative circumstances (or strain), to have a low sense of mastery, and to engage in ruminative coping. The hypotheses were tested in a 2-wave study of approximately 1,100 community-based adults who were 25 to 75 years old. Chronic strain, low mastery, and rumination were each more common in women than in men and mediated the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Rumination amplified the effects of mastery and, to some extent, chronic strain on depressive symptoms. In addition, chronic strain and rumination had reciprocal effects on each other over time, and low mastery also contributed to more rumination. Finally, depressive symptoms contributed to more rumination and less mastery over time.