scholarly journals The Effects of Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem Writing Interventions on Women’s Valuation of Weight Management Goals, Body Appreciation, and Eating Behaviors

2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110134
Author(s):  
Kheana Barbeau ◽  
Camille Guertin ◽  
Kayla Boileau ◽  
Luc Pelletier
Keyword(s):  
Weight Management ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Writing Interventions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Bulimic Symptoms

In this study, we examined the effects of body-focused daily self-compassion and self-esteem expressive writing activities on women’s valuation of weight management goals, body appreciation, bulimic symptoms, and healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors. One-hundred twenty-six women, recruited from the community and a university participant pool ( Mage = 29.3, SD = 13.6), were randomly allocated to one of the three writing conditions: body-focused self-compassion, body-focused self-esteem, or control. Women reflected on a moment within the past 24 hours that made them feel self-conscious about their bodies, eating, or exercise habits (self-compassion and self-esteem conditions) or on a particular situation or feeling that occurred in the past 24 hours (control condition) for 4–7 days. At post-treatment (24 hours after the intervention), women in the self-compassion group demonstrated decreased bulimic symptoms, while women in the self-esteem and control conditions did not. Furthermore, clinically significant changes in bulimic symptoms were associated with being in the self-compassion condition but not in the self-esteem or control conditions. Results suggest that body-focused writing interventions may be more effective in temporarily reducing eating disorder symptoms in women if they focus on harnessing self-compassion. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843211013465

A pilot study on the effects and feasibility of compassion-focused expressive writing in Day Hospice patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Imrie ◽  
Nicholas A. Troop
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Causal Reasoning ◽  
The Self ◽  
Writing Intervention ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Hospice Patients ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Expressive Writing Intervention

AbstractObjective:Research has found that writing about stress can confer physical and psychological health benefits on participants and that adopting a self-compassionate stance may have additional benefits. This pilot study evaluated a self-compassionate expressive writing intervention in a Day Hospice setting.Method:Thirteen patients with life-limiting illnesses wrote on two occasions about recent stressful experiences. Half also received a self-compassion instruction for their writing. Outcome measures were taken at baseline and one week after the second writing session, and text analysis was used to identify changes in the types of words used, reflecting changes in psychological processes.Results:Patients given the self-compassion instruction increased in their self-soothing and self-esteem in contrast to patients in the stress-only condition. Happiness broadly increased in both groups although reported levels of stress generally increased in patients given the self-compassion instruction but decreased in patients in the stress-only condition. Those given the self-compassion instruction also increased in their use of causal reasoning words across the two writing sessions compared with those in the stress-only condition.Significance of Results:Expressive writing appears to be beneficial in patients at a hospice and was viewed as valuable by participants. The inclusion of a self-compassion instruction may have additional benefits and a discussion of the feasibility of implementing expressive writing sessions in a Day Hospice is offered.

Reducing Body Image–Related Distress in Women With Breast Cancer Using a Structured Online Writing Exercise: Results From the My Changed Body Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (19) ◽  
pp. 1930-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry A. Sherman ◽  
Astrid Przezdziecki ◽  
Jessica Alcorso ◽  
Christopher Jon Kilby ◽  
Elisabeth Elder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Compassion

Purpose Breast cancer treatment adverse effects result in one in three survivors experiencing body image–related distress (BID) that negatively impacts on a woman’s ability to recover after cancer and into survivorship. My Changed Body (MyCB) is a Web-based psychological intervention to alleviate BID and improve body appreciation in survivors of breast cancer (BCSs) through a single-session, self-compassion focused writing activity. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of MyCB on BID and body appreciation in BCSs. The moderating effect of lymphedema status (affected or unaffected) and appearance investment (self-importance placed on personal appearance) and the mediating effect of self-compassion were evaluated. Patients and Methods Women (disease-free stage I to III BCSs who had experienced at least one negative event related to bodily changes after breast cancer) were randomly assigned to MyCB (n = 149) or an expressive writing control arm (n = 155). Primary outcomes were reduction in BID and improvement in body appreciation 1 week after intervention. Secondary outcomes included psychological distress (depression and anxiety) and self-compassion. Follow-up assessments occurred 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after writing. Results Compliance with the MyCB intervention was 88%, and attrition was 9.2%. Intent-to-treat linear mixed models indicated that participants who received MyCB reported significantly less BID ( P = .035) and greater body appreciation ( P = .004) and self-compassion ( P < .001) than expressive writing participants. Intervention effects on BID were moderated by lymphedema status ( P = .007) and appearance investment ( P = .042). Self-compassion mediated effects on both primary outcomes. Therapeutic effects were maintained at 1 month (BID and body appreciation) and 3 months (body appreciation) after intervention. Significant reductions in psychological distress (1-month depression, P = .001; 1-week and 1-month anxiety, P = .007) were evident for MyCB participants with lymphedema. Conclusion This study supports the efficacy of MyCB for reducing BID and enhancing body appreciation among BCSs.

scholarly journals A comparison of self-esteem between patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, to those not receiving orthodontic treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 112-115
Author(s):  
Maleeha Majid ◽  
◽  
Maliha Jamshaid ◽  
Ghina Rizwan ◽  
Zarnab Rizwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Orthodontic Treatment ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Other ◽  
Treatment Need ◽  
The Past ◽  
Group A ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Group B

Objective: Comparison of the self-esteem between patients undergoing fixed orthodonticc treatment in the past 6 months or more, to those not receiving orthodontic treatment or the time passed since the commencement of their treatment has been less than six months. Materials and methods: The participants of this study were divided into two groups, group A and group B. The sample size of each group was 75 making the total 150 aged between 16 to 25 years. The malocclusion severity was assessed with the index of orthodontic treatment need aesthetic component (IOTN-AC) which was 6 or more for both groups. Group A involved patients currently receiving no orthodontic treatment or the time elapsed since the start of the treatment was less than 6 months. Group B on the other hand, comprised of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment in the past 6 months or more. Questionnaires were administered among both group A and group B where self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-esteem (RSE) Scale. Independent Sample T test was applied on both of these variables. Results: The results did not show any statistically significant association between self-esteem and “the time elapsed since the start of the treatment”. Likewise, the additional factors i.e., Age, Education and Gender too had no impact on the Rosenberg score. Conclusion: No association was found between selfesteem of the patients undergoing fixed Orthodontic treatment, to those not receiving it

The Self as Activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Weger ◽  
Klaus Herbig
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Ideal Self ◽  
The Real ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Person Perspective ◽  
Self Schema ◽  
Core Self

The self is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon that is often described through its subcomponents (e.g., self-control, self-esteem, self-compassion). The entity that unifies these subcomponents is more elusive and difficult to access, at least with standard psychological methods. In the current inquiry we set out to illuminate and extend the understanding of the self by exploring the differentiation of the self as a “content” versus a “process” (e.g., self-schema vs. self-activity). We also differentiate the “self” from the “I,” exploring characteristics of a 3rd- versus a 1st-person perspective to this core psychological entity. We pursue an empirical 1st-person inquiry that is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on concepts from both psychology and religious studies (in particular the “essential” or “core” self in psychology, as well as the “real” or “ideal” self in religious studies in the form of the “I Am” statements in the Gospels). Our approach illustrates how a consideration of phenomenological, 1st-person qualities of selfhood allows for an enriched, empirically based understanding of crucially important but subtle dimensions of I-ness that remain inaccessible to 3rd-person exploration.

scholarly journals The relationship between self-esteem and self-compassion in socially anxious

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Holas ◽  
Melanie Kowalczyk ◽  
Izabela Krejtz ◽  
Katarzyna Wisiecka ◽  
Tomasz Jankowski
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Fear of evaluation and a negative view of the self are the core aspects of social anxiety. Self-compassion and self-esteem are two distinct positive attitudes toward the self, which are positively related to each other, well-being and good psychological functioning. It is less clear, however, how they interplay in socially anxious individuals and if self-compassion may reduce the negative effect of low self-esteem on social anxiety. The current research aimed at evaluating the directional links between those constructs to check if self-compassion mediates the effect of self-esteem on social anxiety. In this study, 388 adult participants with elevated social anxiety completed measures of self-compassion, self-esteem and social anxiety. As expected, both self-esteem and self-compassion correlated negatively with social anxiety and positively with one another, with lower self-esteem being a stronger predictor of social anxiety. Importantly, self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between self-esteem and social anxiety. These findings suggest that self-compassion partially explains the negative effects of deficits in self-esteem on social anxiety. Practical implications of the research are discussed.

scholarly journals Self-Confidence and Paranoia: An Experimental Study Using an Immersive Virtual Reality Social Situation

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Atherton ◽  
Angus Antley ◽  
Nicole Evans ◽  
Emma Cernis ◽  
Rachel Lister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Paranoid Ideation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Negative Thoughts

Background: Paranoia may build directly upon negative thoughts about the self. There have been few direct experimental tests of this hypothesis. Aims: The aim of the study was to test the immediate effects of manipulating self-esteem in individuals vulnerable to paranoia. Method: A two condition cross-over experimental test was conducted. The participants were 26 males reporting paranoid ideation in the past month. Each participant experienced a neutral immersive virtual reality (VR) social environment twice. Before VR participants received a low self-confidence manipulation or a high self-confidence manipulation. The order of manipulation type was randomized. Paranoia about the VR avatars was assessed. Results: The low self-confidence manipulation, relative to the high self-confidence manipulation, led to significantly more negative social comparison in virtual reality and higher levels of paranoia. Conclusions: Level of self-confidence affects the occurrence of paranoia in vulnerable individuals. The clinical implication is that interventions designed to improve self-confidence may reduce persecutory ideation.

scholarly journals The Importance of Self-Compassion in Terms of Self Psychology

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
Ming-Yu Claudia Wong
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Psychology ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
The Self ◽  
True Self ◽  
New Era ◽  
Self Compassion

Self-compassion has fostered a new way to build connectedness with oneself and affirmed the importance of offering compassion to oneself. However, there have been numerous arguments about the similarity with other self-related concepts, yet they have neglected its importance in self-psychology. For instance, self-compassion could be seen as an important element in Kohut’s concept of self in illustrating the self-object and self-experience theory, thus leading to a healthy self. Additionally, the self-schemas (self-esteem and self-efficacy) have been sufficiently shown to be associating with and predicting positive psychological outcomes and have further demonstrated the positive relations with self-compassion. Self-compassion thus demonstrated that similar features have been shared among the self-schemas. Moreover, with the claim that self-compassion was more precise than self-esteem, self-compassion should be emphasized by self-psychology then to develop a new era of “true self-esteem”.

scholarly journals Body Positivity and Self-Compassion on a Publicly Available Behavior Change Weight Management Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13358
Author(s):  
Meaghan McCallum ◽  
Annabell Suh Ho ◽  
Christine N. May ◽  
Heather Behr ◽  
Ellen Siobhan Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Dialectical Behavior Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Weight Management Program ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Over Time

According to recent research, body positivity and self-compassion are key outcomes that are tied to better psychological and physical health. To date, it is unclear whether body positivity and self-compassion improve, stay constant, or deteriorate over the course of a weight management program, particularly one that addresses the psychological roots of behavior change. Additionally, beyond controlled settings, there are no studies on body positivity and self-compassion in individuals who choose to join a commercial weight management program. Therefore, this single-arm prospective study examined changes in body positivity and self-compassion from baseline to the 16 week milestone of Noom Weight, a commercial behavior change weight management program informed by acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We also examined how baseline and over-time changes in body positivity and self-compassion predicted engagement in program-measured relevant behaviors (e.g., exercises logged). Participants were a random subset of individuals who had recently self-enrolled in the program (n = 133). Body positivity and self-compassion were measured via survey at baseline and end of the core program (16 weeks). Self-reported weight and program-recorded engagement were extracted from the program database. Compared to baseline, body appreciation, body image flexibility, self-compassion, and body-focused rumination significantly improved at 16 weeks (all ps < 0.007). Participants lost a statistically significant amount of weight (3.9 kg; t(128)) = 10.64, p < 0.001) by 16 weeks, which was 4.4% body weight. Greater engagement, especially messaging a coach, reading articles, and logging meals, was associated with improvements over time in body appreciation (r = 0.17, p = 0.04), body image flexibility (r = −0.23, p = 0.007), and the brooding component of rumination (r = −0.23, p = 0.007). Greater engagement was also associated with baseline total self-compassion (r = 0.19, p = 0.03) and self-judgment (r = 0.24, p = 0.006). The results suggest that individuals experience improvements in body positivity and self-compassion while learning about ACT, DBT, and CBT through curriculum and coaching in this setting. The results also have important clinical implications, such as the possibility that psychologically-oriented (i.e., ACT, DBT, and CBT-based) weight management could be important to improve body positivity or that baseline self-compassion could be used to target individuals at risk for lower engagement. Future work should investigate these possibilities as well as delineate the causal relationships between body positivity, self-compassion, engagement, and weight loss.

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