Self‐compassion and PTSD symptom severity

Abstract

Neff's (2003a, 2003b) notion of self-compassion emphasizes kindness towards one's self, a feeling of connectedness with others, and mindful awareness of distressing experiences. Because exposure to trauma and subsequent posttraumatic stress symptoms (PSS) may be associated with self-criticism and avoidance of internal experiences, the authors examined the relationship between self-compassion and PSS. Out of a sample of 210 university students, 100 endorsed experiencing a Criterion A trauma. Avoidance symptoms significantly correlated with self-compassion, but reexperiencing and hyperarousal did not. Individuals high in self-compassion may engage in less avoidance strategies following trauma exposure, allowing for a natural exposure process.

Grief rumination mediates the association between self-compassion and psychopathology in relatives of missing persons

“…These previous large effects were predominantly based on non-clinical (student) samples. Correlations between self-compassion and PTS ranged from small to large in trauma exposed samples (Dahm et al, 2015; Hiraoka et al, 2015; Thompson & Waltz, 2008). …”

“…Costa & Pinto Gouveia, 2011; Gilbert et al, 2011; Neff, 2003; Raes, 2010; Roemer et al, 2009; van Dam et al, 2011), and (posttraumatic) stress (e.g. Costa & Pinto Gouveia, 2011; Dahm et al, 2015; Gilbert et al, 2011; Hiraoka et al, 2015; Raque-Bogdan, Ericson, Jackson, Martin, & Bryan, 2011; Thompson & Waltz, 2008). Self-compassion is defined as the tendency to be open to one’s own pain and suffering, to experience feelings of kindness toward oneself, to recognize that one’s experience is part of a common human experience, and to take an understanding, non-judgmental attitude toward one’s failures and inadequacies (Neff, 2003).…”

“…Studies have shown that people exposed to traumatic events who showed higher levels of self-compassion reported lower levels of PTSD both concurrently (Dahm et al, 2015; Hiraoka et al, 2015; Thompson & Waltz, 2008) and longitudinally (Hiraoka et al, 2015; Zeller, Yuval, Nitzan-Assayag, & Bernstein, 2015). Furthermore, a laboratory study showed that a self-compassionate attitude toward a previous adverse life event can be induced and, once induced, leads to less emotional distress during the retrieval of memories of this event (Leary, Tate, Adams, Allen, & Hancock, 2007).…”

“…One possible explanation for the beneficial role of self-compassion in dealing with traumatic events is that self-compassion is associated with engagement with, rather than avoidance of, painful thoughts, memories, and feelings (Leary et al, 2007; Thompson & Waltz, 2008; Zeller et al, 2015). Accordingly, some researchers have argued that self-compassionate people ‘may be more likely to experience a natural process of exposure to trauma-related stimuli’ (Thompson & Waltz, 208, pp.…”

“…It has been argued that elevated self-compassion might serve as a buffer for getting entangled in rumination, thereby preventing the exacerbation of emotional distress (Leary et al, 2007; Thompson & Waltz, 2008; Zeller et al, 2015). Accordingly, cross-sectional studies have shown that people with higher levels of self-compassion are less inclined to ruminate (Neff, 2003; Svendsen, Kvernenes, Wiker, & Dundas, 2016).…”