The impact of mindfulness meditation on self-esteem and self-compassion among prisoners

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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Investigating the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Stigma Among Young Adults With History of Suicide Attempts

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000399 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Meshan Lehmann ◽

Matthew R. Hilimire ◽

Lawrence H. Yang ◽

Bruce G. Link ◽

Jordan E. DeVylder

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Self Esteem ◽

High Risk Population ◽

High Functioning ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

History Of ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Background: Self-esteem is a major contributor to risk for repeated suicide attempts. Prior research has shown that awareness of stigma is associated with reduced self-esteem among people with mental illness. No prior studies have examined the association between self-esteem and stereotype awareness among individuals with past suicide attempts. Aims: To understand the relationship between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among young adults who have and have not attempted suicide. Method: Computerized surveys were administered to college students (N = 637). Linear regression analyses were used to test associations between self-esteem and stereotype awareness, attempt history, and their interaction. Results: There was a significant stereotype awareness by attempt interaction (β = –.74, p = .006) in the regression analysis. The interaction was explained by a stronger negative association between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among individuals with past suicide attempts (β = –.50, p = .013) compared with those without attempts (β = –.09, p = .037). Conclusion: Stigma is associated with lower self-esteem within this high-functioning sample of young adults with histories of suicide attempts. Alleviating the impact of stigma at the individual (clinical) or community (public health) levels may improve self-esteem among this high-risk population, which could potentially influence subsequent suicide risk.

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Feeling Like a Burden

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000411 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 219-238

Author(s):

James H. Wirth ◽

Ashley Batts Allen ◽

Emily M. Zitek

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Social Consequences ◽

Social Costs ◽

Negative Outcomes ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Self Compassion

Abstract. We examined the negative outcomes, particularly social costs that result when a person harms their group by performing poorly, and whether self-compassion could buffer against these negative outcomes. In Studies 1 and 2, participants performed poorly and harmed their group or performed equal to their group. Harmful poor-performing participants felt more burdensome, experienced more negative affect, felt more ostracized, anticipated more exclusion, and felt lowered self-esteem than equal-performing participants. Studies 3 and 4 disentangled poor performance from harming a group. Poor-performing participants either harmed the group or caused no harm. Harmful poor-performing participants felt more burdensome and anticipated more exclusion, indicating the additional social consequences of a harmful poor performance over a non-harmful performance. Across studies, trait self-compassion was associated with reduced negative effects.

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