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The relationship between mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in young adult women

Authors:
Danielle Fuchs at McGill University
Danielle Fuchs
Matthew H. Fleischmann at McGill University
Matthew H. Fleischmann
Melanie Wisener at McGill University
Melanie Wisener
Bassam Khoury at McGill University
Bassam Khoury
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Abstract

Previous research has examined the relationships among mindfulness facets (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience), self-compassion, and aggression in men. The research examining these relationships in women has been limited. Thus, the present study aims to examine the relationships among mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in a sample of young adult women. Participants (N = 125) aged 18 to 25 (M = 21.16, SD = 1.72) completed self-report measures of mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression. Regression analysis indicated significant negative correlations between aggression and describing (p = .003), acting with awareness (p < .001), non-judging (p < .001), non-reactivity (p = .001), and self-compassion (p < .001). There was not a statistically significant negative correlation between aggression and observing (p = .373). Furthermore, self-compassion explained variance in aggression above and beyond individuals’ mindfulness scores (p = .008). Results indicate that mindfulness facets and self-compassion may be valuable protective factors for aggression in young adult women. Future research on coping mechanisms for aggression should focus primarily on the facets of describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity. Research should further explore the possible role of self-compassion in reducing aggression in young adult women.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
1 3
Current Psychology (2024) 43:5443–5450
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04732-9
The relationship betweenmindfulness facets, self‑compassion,
andaggression inyoung adult women
DanielleE.Fuchs1 · MatthewH.Fleischmann2 · MelanieWisener2 · BassamKhoury2
Accepted: 3 May 2023 / Published online: 13 May 2023
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023
Abstract
Previous research has examined the relationships among mindfulness facets (i.e., observing, describing, acting with aware-
ness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience), self-compassion, and aggression in men. The
research examining these relationships in women has been limited. Thus, the present study aims to examine the relationships
among mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in a sample of young adult women. Participants (N = 125) aged
18 to 25 (M = 21.16, SD = 1.72) completed self-report measures of mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression.
Regression analysis indicated significant negative correlations between aggression and describing (p = .003), acting with
awareness (p < .001), non-judging (p < .001), non-reactivity (p = .001), and self-compassion (p < .001). There was not a statis-
tically significant negative correlation between aggression and observing (p = .373). Furthermore, self-compassion explained
variance in aggression above and beyond individuals’ mindfulness scores (p = .008). Results indicate that mindfulness facets
and self-compassion may be valuable protective factors for aggression in young adult women. Future research on coping
mechanisms for aggression should focus primarily on the facets of describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-
reactivity. Research should further explore the possible role of self-compassion in reducing aggression in young adult women.
Keywords Mindfulness· Self-compassion· Aggression· Women· Young adults
Introduction
Aggression can be defined as any behaviour that intends to
harm another person, physically or psychologically (Anderson,
2012). There are four subtypes of aggression: verbal aggression,
physical aggression, hostility, and anger (Buss & Perry, 1992).
Aggression interferes with people’s lives and relationships
(Polanin etal., 2020). Moreover, the literature has demonstrated
strong associations between the perpetration of aggression
and poor academic performance, negative mental health, and
involvement in criminal acts (Polanin etal., 2020). Exposure
to aggression further correlates with normative beliefs about
aggression, which may indicate the development of a cycle of
aggression (Dusing etal., 2019).
A large body of research has shown higher levels of aggres-
sion in men than in women (Pugh, 2009). Research has also
shown that men tend to display more overt or physical types
of aggression, whereas women tend to display primarily
covert, verbal, and relational aggression (Björkqvist, 2018;
Pugh, 2009). Aggressive behaviour typically becomes pro-
gressively more serious through young adulthood for both
men and women (Liu etal., 2013). One’s levels of aggression
do not appear to change significantly after young adulthood
(Huesmann etal., 2009). The gap between levels of aggres-
sion in men and women peaks in childhood and has been
observed to decrease with age, with the rates of aggression in
women and men converging through adolescence and young
adulthood (Knight etal., 2002). Additionally, aggression
research has historically lacked adequate representation of
women (Pugh, 2009). Given these differences and the sparsity
of aggression research on women, examining aggression in a
sample of young adult women may help to better understand
the potential correlates for the presentation of aggression in
that population.
Resources for intervention and prevention of aggres-
sion in women are severely limited, indicating a need for
* Danielle E. Fuchs
danielle.fuchs@mail.mcgill.ca
1 Department ofPsychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill
College Avenue, Montréal, QuébecH3A1G1, Canada
2 Department ofEducational & Counselling Psychology,
McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montréal,
QuébecH3A1Y2, Canada
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... These components of self-compassion have the potential to manifest in a gentle, nurturing manner, particularly when directed toward self-acceptance or the alleviation of distressing emotions [37]. Such positive attitudes, when transferred from oneself to others, could influence externalizing behaviors such as prosociality or aggression [34,57,58]. These findings suggested that self-compassion may be a healthy way of relating to one's self motivated by a desire to help rather than harm. ...
... It's not hard to understand, because as an emotion regulation strategy, self-compassion refers to how we relate to ourselves in instances of perceived failure, inadequacy, or personal suffering, requiring individuals with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience [37]. This inward peaceful power is able to influence outward behaviors [4,57,58], which is consistent with what we found in current studies that selfcompassion induction could reduce both reactive and proactive aggression in individuals. However, we found no correlation between perceived stress and proactive aggression, resulting in the mediating model not being valid. ...
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