Initial risk factors, self-compassion trajectories, and well-being outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A person-centered approach

Abstract

IntroductionWe investigated whether initial risk classes and heterogeneous trajectories of self-compassion over the course of the pandemic may impact well-being outcomes 1 year into the pandemic.MethodsA large, representative sample of Canadians (N = 3,613; 50.6% women) was sampled longitudinally over 11 waves (April 2020–April 2021), using a rolling cross-sectional survey design. Analyses were conducted in three steps: (1) latent class analysis to identify heterogeneity in risk factors (sociodemographic, cognitive-personality, health-related) early in the pandemic, (2) latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify longitudinal self-compassion trajectories, and (3) GLM to examine effects of risk factor classes and self-compassion trajectories, as well as their interaction, on later well-being (mental health, perceived control, life satisfaction).Results and DiscussionFour risk factor classes emerged, with 50.9% of participants experiencing low risk, 14.3% experiencing multiple risks, 20.8% experiencing Cognitive-Personality and Health risks, and 14.0% experiencing sociodemographic and Cognitive-Personality risks. Four self-compassion trajectories also emerged, with 47.7% of participants experiencing moderate-high self-compassion that decreased then stabilized, 32.0% experiencing moderate self-compassion that decreased then stabilized, 17.3% experiencing high and stable self-compassion across time, and 3.0% experiencing low and decreasing self-compassion. Comparisons of well-being outcomes 1 year post-pandemic indicated that higher levels of self-compassion over time may protect against the impact of initial risk on well-being outcomes. Further work is still needed on heterogeneity in experiences of risk and protective factors during stressful life events.

Trajectories of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A person-oriented multi-trajectory approach

“…The present manuscript pioneers the exploration of the positive facets of self-compassion, specifically compassionate self-responding trajectories, utilizing a three-step approach. Building on the work described in the current manuscript, we extended and successfully replicated the findings by relying on a global score of self-compassion (see [ 54 ]). This study complies with the APA ethical regulations for research on human subjects and all participants gave online informed consent, as approved by the institutional review boards of the principal investigators (Comité d’Éthique de la Recherche en Éducation et en Psychologie, CEREP-20-038-D).…”

“…This study was part of a larger longitudinal project, “COVID-19 Canada: The end of the world as we know it?” (see [ 53 , 54 ]). The present manuscript pioneers the exploration of the positive facets of self-compassion, specifically compassionate self-responding trajectories, utilizing a three-step approach.…”

Using Twitter to investigate discourse on immigration: the role of values in expressing polarized attitudes toward asylum seekers during the closure of Roxham Road

“…influence people's personal values. There is evidence to suggest that macro-level circumstances within society, such as a pandemic or the introduction of new laws, can exert a substantial influence on people's attitudes and values (Tankard and Paluck, 2017;Arcila-Calderón et al, 2021;Rowe et al, 2021;Kil et al, 2023). In such circumstances, real-time, frequent, comprehensive, and globally representative information becomes imperative to monitor evolving attitudes (Rowe et al, 2021).…”