Self compassion research
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Transcript of Self compassion research
Research on Self-compassion
Kristin Neff, PhD
University of Texas at Austin
The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)
• Tried to represent the main components of self-compassion in scale
Sample Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) ItemsSample Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) Items
Self-Kindness SubscaleSelf-Kindness Subscale: I try to be understanding and patient : I try to be understanding and patient towards those aspects of my personality I don't like.towards those aspects of my personality I don't like.
Self-Judgment SubscaleSelf-Judgment Subscale: I’m disapproving and judgmental about : I’m disapproving and judgmental about my own flaws and inadequacies.my own flaws and inadequacies.
Common Humanity SubscaleCommon Humanity Subscale: I try to see my failings as part of : I try to see my failings as part of the human condition.the human condition.
Isolation Subscale:Isolation Subscale: When I fail at something that's important to When I fail at something that's important to me, I tend to feel alone in my failure.me, I tend to feel alone in my failure.
Mindfulness Subscale:Mindfulness Subscale: When I'm feeling down I try to approach When I'm feeling down I try to approach my feelings with curiosity and openness.my feelings with curiosity and openness.
Over-identified Subscale:Over-identified Subscale: When something upsets me I get When something upsets me I get carried away with my feelings.carried away with my feelings.
Self-Compassion Linked to Well-beingSelf-Compassion Linked to Well-being
Greater:Greater: life satisfaction, social connectedness, autonomy, life satisfaction, social connectedness, autonomy, resilient coping, personal growth, reflective and affective resilient coping, personal growth, reflective and affective wisdom, curiosity and exploration, happiness, optimismwisdom, curiosity and exploration, happiness, optimism
Less:Less: anxiety, depression, self-criticism, neuroticism, anxiety, depression, self-criticism, neuroticism, rumination, thought suppression, and perfectionismrumination, thought suppression, and perfectionism
Populations studied: Ages 14 – 83
United States, Netherlands, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey
Self-compassion and anxiety
• Several studies show that self-compassion provides a very strong buffer again self-evaluative anxiety
• At its core anxiety stems from fear of being excluded from the social group
• Self-compassion provides feelings of safety, acceptance and interconnectedness
Self-compassion and body image
• Concerns with thinness often driven by the need for high self-esteem
• Cultural standards of thinness becoming more extreme for females
• Most females are unhappy with their body, want to be thinner, are currently on a diet
• Self-compassion can allow for acceptance of one’s own body, of personal imperfection
• Also provides motivation for change if diet and exercise are needed – health rather than self-worth
Research on self-compassion and body image
• Self-compassion is associated with health behaviors among womenLinked to intrinsic motivation to exercise, less focus
on ego-concernsGreater comfort with their bodies, less concerned
with social evaluation• Self-compassion reduces the urge to overeat among
those who have “blown” their diet
Group differences in self-compassion
• Women tend to have less self-compassion than menMainly because are more self-critical and tend to be
more negativeWomen tend to be kinder to others than to selfWomen are just as high in their feelings of common
humanity, a strength that can be built upon
Group differences in self-compassion
• Practicing Buddhists have higher levels of self-compassion than the general populationMeans that self-compassion is a skill that can be
practiced
Group differences in self-compassion
• In a cross-cultural study, Thais had highest levels of self-compassion, Taiwanese the lowest, Americans were in-between Means that Asians should not be stereotyped In all three cultures, self-compassion strongly linked
to psychological well-being
Self-compassion in relationships
• Research suggests that self-compassion can greatly enhance relationship interactions
• Examined how self-compassion levels related to reports by partners of relationship behaviorSelf-compassionate partners were described as more caring,
intimate, accepting, and autonomy grantingSelf-compassionate partners were described as being less
detached, controlling, hostile, and aggressive
• People with more self-compassion had better relationships
Importance of self-compassion for care-givers
• Research shows that self-compassion is associated with less burnout and compassion fatigue
• Self-compassion provides the emotional resources needed to nurture others
• By acknowledging how difficult care-giving can be, reduces anger and resentment
• By opening our hearts to human imperfection, can accept others as they are
Self-compassion in adolescence
• Main task of adolescence is identity formation• Highly concerned with evaluating self-worth (especially in
comparison with peers) • Self-compassionate teens have much lower levels of
depression and anxiety, greater connectedness• Self-compassion levels predicted by maternal criticism,
family conflict, attachment styleSelf-compassion may be thought of as an internalized
form of relating that is partly modeled from parents