The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related post-traumatic growth and stress

Background Historically social connection has been an important way through which humans have coped with large-scale threatening events. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns have deprived people of major sources of social support and coping, with others representing threats. Hence, a major stressor during the pandemic has been a sense of social disconnection and loneliness. This study explores how people’s experience of compassion and feeling socially safe and connected, in contrast to feeling socially disconnected, lonely and fearful of compassion, effects the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress. Methods Adult participants from the general population (N = 4057) across 21 countries worldwide, completed self-report measures of social connection (compassion for self, from others, for others; social safeness), social disconnection (fears of compassion for self, from others, for others; loneliness), perceived threat of COVID-19, post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress. Results Perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted increased post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress. Social connection (compassion and social safeness) predicted higher post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress, whereas social disconnection (fears of compassion and loneliness) predicted increased traumatic symptoms only. Social connection heightened the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth, while social disconnection weakened this impact. Social disconnection magnified the impact of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on traumatic stress. These effects were consistent across all countries. Conclusions Social connection is key to how people adapt and cope with the worldwide COVID-19 crisis and may facilitate post-traumatic growth in the context of the threat experienced during the pandemic. In contrast, social disconnection increases vulnerability to develop post-traumatic stress in this threatening context. Public health and Government organizations could implement interventions to foster compassion and feelings of social safeness and reduce experiences of social disconnection, thus promoting growth, resilience and mental wellbeing during and following the pandemic.

The Role of Social Safeness and Self-compassion in Mental Health Problems: A Model Based on Gilbert Theory of Emotion Regulation Systems

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of social safeness and self-compassion, as two essential components of Gilbert’s theory, in mental health. In this regard and based on theoretical foundations, the mediation model of the relationship between social safeness and mental health problems was examined through self-compassion as a mediator. Methods: A total of 344 students from the University of Bojnord, Bojnord City, Iran, in the 2019-2020 academic year were recruited using the cluster sampling method. They were responded to the social safeness and pleasure scale, self-compassion scale (short form), and depression, anxiety, and stress scale. The obtained data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The mediation model showed a good fit (χ2⁄df: 1.77; RMSEA: 0.043; CFI: 0.99; GFI: 0.98; AGFI: 0.96; NFI: 0.98; TLI: 0.98). Beta coefficients indicate significant direct effect of social safeness on self-compassion (Beta=0.57; P≤0.001), significant direct effect of self-compassion on mental health problems (Beta=-0.75; P≤0.001), as well as a significant indirect effect of social safeness on mental health problems (Beta=-0.42; P≤0.001). Conclusion: Social safeness affects mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress) through self-compassion as a mediator. A high sense of social safeness protects against depression, anxiety, and stress through increasing self-compassion. However, low social safeness increases vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and stress by reducing self-compassion.

Compassionate Coach and Psychological Quality of Life in Portuguese Athletes: Effect of Mediating Variables

This study aimed to test a model that hypothesized that the compassionate coach, as perceived by the athletes, has an impact on athlete-related social safeness and psychological health, through shame and self-criticism. The sample comprised 270 Portuguese adult athletes, who practiced different competitive sports. The path analysis results confirmed the adequacy of the proposed model, which explained 45% of the psychological health’s variance. Results demonstrated that athletes who perceive their coaches as more compassionate tend to present higher levels of social safeness (feelings of belonging to the team) and of psychological health, through lower levels of shame and self-criticism. These novel findings suggest the importance of the adoption of supportive, warm, safe, and compassionate attitudes from coaches in athletes’ mental health. This study also offers important insights by suggesting that feelings of acceptance and connectedness in team relationships may be at the root of athletes’ emotional processes and well-being.