Examining a brief self-compassion intervention for emotion regulation in individuals with exposure to trauma.

Abstract

Objective: Research suggests that the overuse of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as avoidance, represents a vulnerability following trauma exposure. Conversely, self-compassion, which impacts emotion regulation through the acceptance of negative emotions, may be an adaptive strategy for managing posttraumatic stress (PTS). Method: An experimental design was used to examine whether a single-session of self-compassion training improved self-compassion and decreased difficulties in emotion regulation, compared to muscle relaxation training, for trauma-exposed undergraduates. Results: Findings replicated previous research among these three constructs (PTS, self-compassion, and difficulties with emotion regulation), with relationships found in the expected directions. However, there was not conclusive evidence to suggest that participating in a brief self-compassion intervention was more effective for reducing difficulties with emotion regulation than participating in a muscle relaxation training intervention. Conclusions: Results supported inverse associations between self-compassion and posttraumatic stress, as well as self-compassion and difficulties with emotion regulation. Future research is needed to investigate how self-compassion skills training can be best utilized to produce clinically significant and long-lasting changes in emotion regulation. Clinical Impact StatementFindings from a sample of trauma-exposed undergraduates demonstrated that greater self-compassion was associated with fewer symptoms of posttraumatic stress and increased emotion regulation. Self-compassion interventions aimed at increasing emotion regulation likely require several sessions and time for practice of self-compassion skills.

Self-compassion reduces posttraumatic stress symptom severity in hurricane survivors via perceived social support.

“…Studies employing self-compassion induction paradigms are increasing our understanding of what happens when people shift from a neutral or self-critical mindset to a more self-compassionate mindset in the short term (Fernando et al, 2017; Himmerich & Orcutt, 2021; Lindsay & Creswell, 2014) and as an enduring habit (Ferrari et al, 2019). Based on findings from our study and others, we would expect that training hurricane survivors to be more self-compassionate would increase their personal resilience resources and affect their social resources positively.…”