Self-compassion in Chinese Young Adults: Specific Features of the Construct from a Cultural Perspective

Abstract Objectives Recent research has suggested that Chinese individuals from a collectivist culture may have a different understanding of self-compassion, which could differentially contribute to mental health. This study aimed to obtain an in-depth insight into Chinese adults’ understanding of self-compassion. Methods Four online focus groups in Chinese undergraduates discussed the construct of self-compassion based on self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Chinese participants valued benign self-criticism and self-reflection when contemplating their understanding of self-compassion. Similarly, participants’ view of self-compassion dimensions can be described as dialectical in that they reflected both negative and positive perceptions in each factor rather than suggesting separate and purely negative or purely positive dimensions. There was also an overlap in the interpretation of the negative dimensions (self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification). Conclusions The findings highlight particularities in the understanding of self-compassion in these Chinese students, which may be influenced by philosophical traditions promoting dialecticism and the dual focus on the transformation of the self and social participation. This suggests the importance of a cultural perspective when studying self-compassion and interpreting relevant research findings.

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Travel as a Catalyst of Peak Experiences Among Young Chinese Adults

Journal of Humanistic Psychology ◽

10.1177/0022167820938613 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002216782093861

Author(s):

Edward Hoffman ◽

Shan Jiang ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Mengzhe Li

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Young Adults ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Humanistic Psychology ◽

Peak Experiences ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Peak Experience ◽

Skill Mastery ◽

Chinese Young Adults ◽

Chinese Undergraduates

Humanistic psychology has pioneered in investigating travel as a contributor to personality growth. In this study, 182 native Chinese undergraduates responded to a survey inquiring if they had ever experienced “wonderful happiness” while engaged in tourism, and if so, to indicate the purpose of their travel, how recently and where their peak-experience occurred, whether they were alone or with others at the time, its intensity and subsequent impact on their view of life. Participants were also asked to describe the “trigger” of their peak-experience; these were coded into nine categories. A total of 86.8% (N=158) responded affirmatively, most of whom were touring within China. Peaks involving nature were reported significantly most frequently. A cluster involving interpersonal joy, serenity, and personal growth were reported second-most frequently, with relatively small frequencies relating to culture/aesthetics, culinary delight, and particularly materialism, skill mastery, and external achievement. More than 75% of participants rated their peak as “moderately” or “very” intense and 53.5% reported that it impacted their subsequent view of life. No significant gender differences emerged. The implications of these findings for understanding growth aspects of tourism among Chinese young adults are discussed, and future avenues of research are highlighted.

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Self-compassion and communication skills in predicting psychological help-seeking attitudes of psychological counsellor candidates

New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences ◽

10.18844/prosoc.v4i6.2928 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 178-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ozlem Tagay

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Psychological Help ◽

Common Humanity ◽

Help Seeking Attitudes ◽

Gender Communication ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Research Findings ◽

Predictive Role

Individuals have different attitudes for overcoming psychological problems. There are several factors influencing the psychological help-seeking behaviour of pre-service psychological counselors, helped by psychological counsellors. The objective of this research is to examine the predictive role of self-compassion and communication skills in psychological helpseeking attitudes. Data were collected from 261 fourth-grade students (183 female and 78 male) from the guidance and psychological counselling undergraduate department. The data on the dependent variables were obtained using the Attitudes toward Seeking Psychological Help Scale. The data on the independent variables were obtained using the SelfCompassion Scale and Communication Skills Scale. Also, gender variable was used as the dummy variable. Pearson Moments Multiplying Correlation Coefficient and the Standard Multiple Regression Analysis were used for analysis of data. According to the research findings, it was found that the gender, communication skills basic principles and common humanity significantly predicted psychological help-seeking attitudes positively. Keywords: Psychological help-seeking, self-compassion, communication skills, psychological counsellor candidates.

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Plato's Caves

10.1093/oso/9780190936983.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca LeMoine

Keyword(s):

Cultural Diversity ◽

White Supremacist ◽

Contemporary Debate ◽

Student Protests ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Cultural Engagement ◽

Good Citizen ◽

Love Of Learning ◽

Canonical Texts ◽

Insight Into

From student protests over the teaching of canonical texts such as Plato’s Republic to the use of images of classical Greek statues in white supremacist propaganda, the world of the ancient Greeks is deeply implicated in a heated contemporary debate about identity and diversity. Plato’s Caves defends the bold thesis that Plato was a friend of cultural diversity, contrary to many contemporary perceptions. It shows that, across Plato’s dialogues, foreigners play a role similar to that of Socrates: liberating citizens from intellectual bondage. Through close readings of four Platonic dialogues—Republic, Menexenus, Laws, and Phaedrus—the author recovers Plato’s unique insight into the promise, and risk, of cross-cultural engagement. Like the Socratic “gadfly” who stings the “horse” of Athens into wakefulness, foreigners can provoke citizens to self-reflection by exposing contradictions and confronting them with alternative ways of life. The painfulness of this experience explains why encounters with foreigners often give rise to tension and conflict. Yet it also reveals why cultural diversity is an essential good. Simply put, exposure to cultural diversity helps one develop the intellectual humility one needs to be a good citizen and global neighbor. By illuminating Plato’s epistemological argument for cultural diversity, Plato’s Caves challenges readers to examine themselves and to reinvigorate their love of learning.

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Strategies for the assessment of competences during rheumatology training across Europe: results of a qualitative study

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001183 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e001183 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aurélie Najm ◽

Alessia Alunno ◽

Francisca Sivera ◽

Sofia Ramiro ◽

Catherine Haines

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Current Practice ◽

Online Discussion ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

Formative Feedback ◽

Competence Assessment ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Online Focus Groups ◽

Assessment Systems ◽

Insight Into

ObjectivesTo gain insight into current methods and practices for the assessment of competences during rheumatology training, and to explore the underlying priorities and rationales for competence assessment.MethodsWe used a qualitative approach through online focus groups (FGs) of rheumatology trainers and trainees, separately. The study included five countries—Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. A summary of current practices of assessment of competences was developed, modified and validated by the FGs based on an independent response to a questionnaire. A prioritising method (9 Diamond technique) was then used to identify and justify key assessment priorities.ResultsOverall, 26 participants (12 trainers, 14 trainees) participated in nine online FGs (2 per country, Slovenia 1 joint), totalling 12 hours of online discussion. Strong nationally (the Netherlands, UK) or institutionally (Spain, Slovenia, Denmark) standardised approaches were described. Most groups identified providing frequent formative feedback to trainees for developmental purposes as the highest priority. Most discussions identified a need for improvement, particularly in developing streamlined approaches to portfolios that remain close to clinical practice, protecting time for quality observation and feedback, and adopting systematic approaches to incorporating teamwork and professionalism into assessment systems.ConclusionThis paper presents a clearer picture of the current practice on the assessment of competences in rheumatology in five European countries and the underlying rationale of trainers’ and trainees’ priorities. This work will inform EULAR Points-to-Consider for the assessment of competences in rheumatology training across Europe.

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Combining Multiple Organizational-level Databases: An Empirical Evaluation of Different Matching Methods

Sociological Methods & Research ◽

10.1177/0049124120986184 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004912412098618

Author(s):

Tim de Leeuw ◽

Steffen Keijl

Keyword(s):

Empirical Evaluation ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Random Errors ◽

Data Set ◽

Future Studies ◽

Matching Methods ◽

Matching Process ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Research Findings ◽

Insight Into

Although multiple organizational-level databases are frequently combined into one data set, there is no overview of the matching methods (MMs) that are utilized because the vast majority of studies does not report how this was done. Furthermore, it is unclear what the differences are between the utilized methods, and it is unclear whether research findings might be influenced by the utilized method. This article describes four commonly used methods for matching databases and potential issues. An empirical comparison of those methods used to combine regularly used organizational-level databases reveals large differences in the number of observations obtained. Furthermore, empirical analyses of these different methods reveal that several of them produce both systematic and random errors. These errors can result in erroneous estimations of regression coefficients in terms of direction and/or size as well as an issue where truly significant relationships might be found to be insignificant. This shows that research findings can be influenced by the MM used, which would argue in favor of the establishment of a preferred method as well as more transparency on the utilized method in future studies. This article provides insight into the matching process and methods, suggests a preferred method, and should aid researchers, reviewers, and editors with both combining multiple databases and describing and assessing them.

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Unscrambling method and methodology in action research traditions: theoretical conceptualization of praxis and emancipation

Qualitative Research ◽

10.1177/1468794116674771 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 395-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Luciana Cordeiro ◽

Cassia Baldini Soares ◽

Leslie Rittenmeyer

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Approach ◽

Knowledge Generation ◽

Research Traditions ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Insight Into ◽

Theoretical Conceptualization

Action research is a participatory approach that is used in an array of contexts. From its first proposition it comprises four core principles: participation and collaboration; a constant spiral cycle of self-reflection; knowledge generation; and practice transformation. Praxis and emancipation are two important analytical categories in AR, but are conceptualized differently in the two existing AR traditions. These conceptualizations reveal different AR aims, which lead to either the use of AR as a method (Northern tradition) or as a methodology (Southern tradition). Much depends on the researchers’ interest and worldview. Our objective in this paper is to compare how emancipation and praxis are theorized in both traditions. This discussion intends to add insight into the methodological understanding and utilization of AR.

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Validation of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised Scale in Chinese Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18083959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 3959

Author(s):

Wenjie Li ◽

Linting Zhang ◽

Ning Jia ◽

Feng Kong

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Predictive Validity ◽

Factor Model ◽

Well Being ◽

Smartphone Addiction ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Chinese Undergraduates

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised scale (HEMA-R) is one of the most extensively used instruments to assess how people pursue well-being. The main aims of the present research were to translate HEMA-R into Chinese and test its construct and predictive validity as well as measurement invariance across gender. In Study 1, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis with data containing 1090 Chinese undergraduates, and replicated the two-factor model which has been found in other studies. Furthermore, the measurement invariance across gender was supported throughout the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 replicated these results and further found the HEMA-R had satisfactory predictive validity in measures of well-being, social support and smartphone addiction. All the findings indicate that the HEMA-R is reliable and valid to measure hedonic and eudaimonic motives, and it could be applied generally across gender in Chinese adults.

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Using Compassionate Mind Training as a Resource in EMDR: A Case Study

Journal of EMDR Practice and Research ◽

10.1891/1933-3196.7.4.186 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 186-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Elaine Beaumont ◽

Caroline J. Hollins Martin

Keyword(s):

Depression Scale ◽

Self Report ◽

Discussion Section ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Compassion Scale ◽

Mind Training ◽

Current Signature ◽

Insight Into

This case study examines the contribution of compassionate mind training (CMT) when used as a resource in the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment of a 58-year-old man, who presented after a recent trauma with psychological distress and somatic symptoms—an inability to sign his name. Self-report questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], Impact of Events Scale-R [IES-R], and Self-Compassion Scale [SCS]) were administered at pretherapy, midtherapy, posttherapy, and 9-month follow-up. EMDR with CMT facilitated recall of forgotten memories about his sister’s traumatic death decades previously, with related emotions of shame and grief, creating insight into how these past events linked to his current signature-signing phobia. Eight sessions of therapy resulted in an elimination of the client’s signature-signing phobia and a reduction in trauma-related symptoms, elevation in mood, and increase in self-compassion. Effects were maintained at 9-month follow-up. The “Discussion” section highlights the value of working collaboratively with clients to best meet their individual needs.

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The New Perceptions on Life of Iranian Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Qualitative Study

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4694 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sara Shahba ◽

Reza Jafari-Shakib ◽

Mahdi Mahmoudi ◽

Ahmadreza Jamshidi ◽

Mahdi Vojdanian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽

Life Experience ◽

Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽

Qualitative Studies ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Research Findings ◽

First Time ◽

Insight Into ◽

Gaining Insight

Various studies suggest that ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as a chronic inflammatory disease with many disabilities can have impacts on different aspects of patients’ life. Despite many quantitative studies, only few qualitative studies have thus far been published on this subject. For the first time, the present study aims at gaining insight into the life experience of Iranian AS patients. We performed a content analysis through semi-structured interviews with twenty-eight patients diagnosed with AS, including three females and twenty-five males with an average age of 38.5 years, to gain insight into their experiences. Whatever the patients expressed was written and transcribed verbatim. Then, we did analysis of the results after each interview. The detailed information completely extracted from the interviews was classified as sub-themes and main themes. Three main themes were identified by the analysis: (i) “Always with pain” describing the effects were found in regard to pain on patients’ life, (ii) “The perceived limitation” describing many difficulties that people may face in the society as a result of their disease, and (iii) “Fearing the unknown future” which implies to both patients and their families have concerns about the future and what will happen. Our research findings in line with other qualitative studies showed that AS disease puts a heavy and intolerable burden on patients and their family. It seems that the experiences of people living with AS can be useful to meet challenges caused by the disease and it can enhance their coping with the disease.

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Factors influencing cognitive reactivity among young adults at high risk for depression in China: a cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.18838/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Fei Fei Huang ◽

Zhi Peng Wen ◽

Qi Li ◽

Bin Chen ◽

Wen Jie Weng

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Young Adults ◽

Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cognitive Reactivity ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Chinese Young Adults

Abstract BackgroundUnderstanding the factors influencing cognitive reactivity (CR) may help identify individuals at risk for first episode depression and relapse, and facilitate routine access to preventative treatments. However, few studies have examined CR to depression in Asian countries. This study was performed to ascertain the current status of CR among Chinese young adults and explore the factors that influence their CR. MethodsA national cross-sectional online study using convenience sampling was conducted among 1637 healthy young adults in China (96.29%). ResultsThe mean CR score was 1.73±0.64. Binary logistic regression showed that a low level of CR was associated with the following factors: high self-compassion, high social support, high resilience, high monthly household income, and living in a rural area, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 0.14 to 0.70. Young adults in full-time employment, experiencing poor sleep, with high neuroticism, who reported frequent sad mood, and who had a high intensity of negative life events had increased CR to depression, with ORs ranging from 1.18 to 6.66. The prediction probability of these factors was 75.40%. Any causal relationships among the influencing factors and CR cannot be established. ConclusionsThe self-reported CR levels among Chinese young adults were moderate. Enhancing self-compassion, resilience, and social support for young adults and reducing negative life events, neuroticism, and poor sleep may facilitate reducing CR. These findings may help healthcare providers or researchers determine how to cultivate and improve the CR of young adults by establishing documented policies and/or improving intervention efficacies.

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