The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis

Zessin, Ulli; Dickhäuser, Oliver; Garbade, Sven F.

doi:10.1111/aphw.12051

Cited by 830 publications

(612 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…3 Self-compassion is also positively correlated with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, intrinsic motivation, and perceived self-competence. 4 Compassion towards others is associated with, for example, reduced levels of depression, 5 pro-social behaviour and social connectedness, 6 and reduced emotional supression.…”

Section: Preliminary Findingsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Can compassion help cure health-related disorders?

et al. 2017

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Section: Preliminary Findingsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Can compassion help cure health-related disorders?

et al. 2017

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“…Neely et al (2009) defined well-being as low stress, negative affect and high life satisfaction. More specifically, psychological well-being, based on Zessin's, Dickhauser 's, & Garbade's (2015) insightful meta-analysis, seems to be a key factor for the eudemonia of people leading to a meaningful life and functioning and revealed a strong correlation of self-compassion and psychological well-being. Additionally, the same study indicated that subjective well-being entails cognitive well-being, which is characterized by the notion of life satisfaction and affective well-being, which is characterized by the notion of positive and negative effect.…”

Section: Self-compassion and Psychological Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effectiveness of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention Program on Self-Compassion, Positive and Negative Affect and Life Satisfaction

Mantelou¹,

Karakasidou²

2017

PSYCH

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Self-compassion (Neff, 2003b) is a newly developed construct of positive psychology while a plethora of studies has highlighted its beneficial outcomes on people's psychological prosperity. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a brief self-compassion training program on self-compassion, life satisfaction and positive and negative affect as well as to contribute new knowledge by investigating whether changes in self-compassion can significantly predict changes in positive affect. A sample of 42 students of Social Sciences, randomly assigned to either the intervention (N = 20) or the control group (N = 22) group where the first group participated in a psycho-educational training program aiming to train them to be more self-compassionate in challenging situations whilst the control group received no training. The results that revealed through the three different questionnaires (Self-Compassion Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Scale) that both groups completed before and after the completion of the program, showed that the intervention group indeed indicated increases in self-compassion, life satisfaction as well as positive affect scores and decrease in negative affect scores, compared to the control group which reported no changes. Furthermore, participants' increases in self-compassion levels strongly predicted increases in positive affect levels, meaning that those who are high self-compassionate have also high positive affect. These findings suggest the importance of selfcompassion on psychological well-being, testing through the implementation of specific intervention programs. Other possible implications and recommendations for future research are also considered.

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“…A growing body of research suggests that self-compassion is positively associated with well-being (for an overview see Zessin, Dickhäuser, & Garbade, 2015) and negatively associated with depression (e.g. Costa & Pinto Gouveia, 2011; Gilbert, McEwan, Matos, & Rivis, 2011; Kuyken et al, 2010; Neff, Pisitsungkagarn, & Hseih, 2008; Raes, 2010, 2011; Roemer et al, 2009; van Dam, Sheppard, Forsyth, & Earleywine, 2011), anxiety (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Lenferink

Eisma

Keijser

et al. 2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: The disappearance of a loved one is a unique type of loss, also termed ‘ambiguous loss’, which may heighten the risk for developing prolonged grief (PG), depression, and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Little is known about protective and risk factors for psychopathology among relatives of missing persons. A potential protective factor is self-compassion, referring to openness toward and acceptance of one’s own pain, failures, and inadequacies. One could reason that self-compassion is associated with lower levels of emotional distress following ambiguous loss, because it might serve as a buffer for getting entangled in ruminative thinking about the causes and consequences of the disappearance (‘grief rumination’). Objective: In a sample of relatives of missing persons we aimed to examine (1) the prediction that greater self-compassion is related to lower symptom-levels of PG, depression, and PTS and (2) to what extent these associations are mediated by grief rumination. Method: Dutch and Belgian relatives of long-term missing persons (N = 137) completed self-report measures tapping self-compassion, grief rumination, PG, depression, and PTS. Mediation analyses were conducted. Results: Self-compassion was significantly, negatively, and moderately associated with PG, depression, and PTS levels. Grief rumination significantly mediated the associations of higher levels of self-compassion with lower levels of PG (a*b = −0.11), depression (a*b = −0.07), and PTS (a*b = −0.11). Specifically, 50%, 32%, and 32% of the effect of self-compassion on PG, depression, and PTS levels, respectively, was accounted for by grief rumination. Conclusions: Findings suggest that people with more self-compassion experience less severe psychopathology, in part because these people are less strongly inclined to engage in ruminative thinking related to the disappearance. Strengthening a self-compassionate attitude using, for instance, mindfulness-based interventions may therefore be a useful intervention to reduce emotional distress associated with the disappearance of a loved one.

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The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract: The results clearly highlight the importance of self-compassion for individuals' well-being. Future research should further investigate the relationship between self-compassion and the different forms of well-being, and focus on the examination of possible additional moderators.

Cited by 830 publications

References 64 publications

Can compassion help cure health-related disorders?

Can compassion help cure health-related disorders?

The Effectiveness of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention Program on Self-Compassion, Positive and Negative Affect and Life Satisfaction

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

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