The (non)Protective Role of Self-Compassion in Internalizing Symptoms: Two Empirical Studies in Adolescents Demonstrating Unwanted Effects of Using the Self-Compassion Scale Total Score

Abstract Objectives Several scholars have questioned the use of the total Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) score as an appropriate index for measuring self-compassion as a protective psychological trait. Methods We present two new studies to further examine the relationships between SCS or SCS-Short Form scores and symptoms of anxiety and depression in non-clinical samples of adolescents (Ns being 106 and 52). Results Both studies showed that most of the variance in internalizing symptoms was explained by the uncompassionate self-responding (USR) components of the SCS and that the share of the compassionate self-responding (CSR) was fairly small. Moreover, when controlling for other relevant variables (study 1: neuroticism and extraversion; study 2: self-esteem and lack of self-esteem), the unique contribution of CSR in explaining variance was even completely abolished. Conclusions We argue that the inclusion of the USR components in the SCS (1) hinders the proper investigation of the protective role of self-compassion, (2) inflates the relationship with internalizing symptoms, and (3) obscures the (fair) comparison with other etiological factors of psychopathology. Within a context of internalizing problems, the SCS or SCS-SF can better be viewed as an index of vulnerability than as a measure of protection.

Download Full-text

Above and beyond emotional suffering: the unique contribution of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding in chronic pain

Scandinavian Journal of Pain ◽

10.1515/sjpain-2020-0082 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 853-857

Author(s):

Sérgio A. Carvalho ◽

José Pinto-Gouveia ◽

David Gillanders ◽

Teresa Lapa ◽

Ana Valentim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Protective Role ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Emotional Suffering ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Valued Living ◽

Nuanced Understanding ◽

Compassion Scale

AbstractObjectivesStudies have shown that self-compassion plays a protective role against depression in women with chronic pain (CP). However, the majority of studies in CP have used the total score of the self-compassion scale (SCS), which have raised concerns due to potential overlap, not only between the uncompassionate self-responding factors and psychopathology, but also between self-compassion as a whole and other well-known psychological processes (e.g., mindfulness, acceptance, psychological flexibility). This calls for a more nuanced understanding of which components of (un)compassionate self-responding adds to better mental health in CP.MethodsThis study explores the unique contribution of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding to depressive symptoms in women with CP undergoing pain consultation (n = 49).ResultsCorrelation analyses suggest that compassionate self-responding only significantly correlates with progress in valued living, while the uncompassionate self-responding significantly correlates with pain fusion, pain avoidance, obstructions to valued living and depression. Multiple regression analysis showed that self-compassion contributes to depressive symptoms (R2 = 8%) above and beyond pain intensity and disability (R2 = 12%) and psychological (in) flexibility processes (R2 = 31%), and uncompassionate (but not compassionate) self-responding uniquely contributes to depressive symptoms (sr2 = 18%).ConclusionsFindings suggest that uncompassionate self-responding is a stronger contributor to depression in CP than compassionate self-responding. Clinical implications are further discussed.

Download Full-text

Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of humor styles in US and Russia

Social Psychology and Society ◽

10.17759/sps.2016070207 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 93-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

I.I. Khramtsova ◽

T.S. Chuykova

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Research ◽

Western World ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Humor Styles ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Compassion Scale

Mindfulness and self-compassion are increasingly coming into mainstream psychological research in the Western world as they correlate with and predict various aspects of mental health and positivity. However, little is known about their relationship to another construct that is also associated with well-being, that is, humor. The unique contribution of the present study is in exploring whether mindfulness and self-compas- sion would predict the use of adaptive and maladaptive humor styles and whether this prediction will be the same across cultures. 90 U.S. and 106 Russian college students responded to a survey consisting of three measures: Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003), Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes, Pommier, Neff, & Van Gucht, 2011), and Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ; Martin, Puhlik-Doris, Larsen, Gray, & Weir, 2003). Our findings suggest that mind- fulness and self-compassion can serve as predictors of humor styles, that is, more mind- ful and self-compassionate participants tended to use more adaptive humor styles and less maladaptive styles. However, the contribution of these two variables to the vari- ance in humor styles depended on the culture.

Download Full-text

Self-Handicapping Among University Students: The Role of Procrastination, Test Anxiety, Self-Esteem, and Self-Compassion

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294118825099 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 123 (3) ◽

pp. 825-843 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Funda Barutçu Yıldırım ◽

Ayhan Demir

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Test Anxiety ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Stepwise Regression ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Compassion Scale ◽

Anxiety Subscale

The purpose of the present study was to examine the predictor role of procrastination, test anxiety, self-esteem, and self-compassion for the variation in university students’ self-handicapping. The sample of the study consisted of 801 undergraduate students (404 females and 397 males). In order to collect data, Self-Handicapping Scale, Tuckman Procrastination Scale, Anxiety Subscale of Academic Emotions Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Self-Compassion Scale were used. Stepwise regression analysis was conducted, and results showed that all of the predictor variables significantly contributed in explaining self-handicapping. The model explained the 59% of the variance in self-handicapping, whereas semi-partial variance of procrastination, test anxiety, self-esteem, and self-compassion were 17%, 4%, 2%, and 2%, respectively.

Download Full-text

Protective role of mindfulness, self‐compassion and psychological flexibility on the burnout subtypes among psychology and nursing undergraduate students

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/jan.14870 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David Martínez‐Rubio ◽

Cristina Martínez‐Brotons ◽

Alicia Monreal‐Bartolomé ◽

Alberto Barceló‐Soler ◽

Daniel Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Psychological Flexibility ◽

Protective Role ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Burnout Subtypes

Download Full-text

The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and god image among Turkish Muslims

Archive for the Psychology of Religion ◽

10.1177/00846724211047274 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 008467242110472

Author(s):

Ferdi Kıraç

Keyword(s):

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Short Form ◽

Self Esteem ◽

God Image ◽

Image Of God ◽

Negative Image ◽

Mediating Role ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Childhood maltreatment is widespread in predominantly Muslim countries. However, the research investigating the impact of childhood maltreatment on the adult survivors’ religious and spiritual lives has mainly focused on Western Judeo-Christian samples. Considering cross-cultural differences in religious beliefs, in this study, we investigated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and god image, and the mediating role of self-esteem in a sample of Muslim Turkish adults. Eight hundred two participants completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form, God Perception Scale, and Self-Esteem Scale. Findings revealed that all childhood maltreatment subtypes predicted negative image of god and self-esteem mediated some of the negative effects of each maltreatment subtype on god image. The study also found that emotional neglect was the most prominent predictor of negative image of god, followed by emotional abuse. Based on attachment theory, we concluded that the emotional component of childhood maltreatment had more long-lasting adverse consequences in survivors’s relationship with god in Muslim adults.

Download Full-text

The Development and Validation of the State Self-Compassion Scale (Long- and Short Form)

Mindfulness ◽

10.1007/s12671-020-01505-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 121-140

Author(s):

Kristin D. Neff ◽

István Tóth-Király ◽

Marissa C. Knox ◽

Ashley Kuchar ◽

Oliver Davidson

Keyword(s):

Short Form ◽

The State ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Development And Validation ◽

Compassion Scale

Download Full-text

Self-compassion in old age: confirmatory factor analysis of the 6-factor model and the internal consistency of the Self-compassion scale-short form

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607863.2019.1569588 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 642-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anna Bratt ◽

Cecilia Fagerström

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Old Age ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Factor Model ◽

Short Form ◽

The Self ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Compassion Scale

Download Full-text

Sexist Microaggressions: Traumatic Stressors Mediated by Self-Compassion

The Counseling Psychologist ◽

10.1177/0011000020954534 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 106-137

Author(s):

Marcus A. Cherry ◽

Melanie M. Wilcox

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Stress ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Cumulative Effects ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Research And Practice ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Internalized Misogyny ◽

Traumatic Stressors

Women regularly endure sexist microaggressions, which are often associated with anger, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma. The cumulative effects of sexist microaggressions may result in internalized sexism and undermine self-compassion. Notably, prolonged exposure to sexism is associated with trauma symptoms; however, the traumatic effects of sexist microaggressions have remained largely theoretical. Thus, we examined the role of sexist microaggressions as a traumatic stressor and evaluated self-compassion and internalized misogyny as mediators of sexism-based traumatic stress. With a sample of 370 adult cisgender women, results suggested that sexist microaggressions significantly and positively predicted trauma symptomology, and that this relationship was partially mediated by self-compassion but not internalized misogyny. Results supported sexism as a traumatic stressor, and low self-compassion as a mechanism through which sexist microaggressions result in traumatic stress. We discuss implications for research and practice.

Download Full-text