Studiens syfte var att undersöka och få en fördjupad förståelse för kursdeltagares tankar och upplevelser av användandet av självmedkänsla på arbetsplatsen. Självmedkänsla är ett relativtnytt begrepp inom organisationer, bland medarbetare och ledare. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med fem deltagare som gått en onlinebaserad kurs i Självmedkänsla på jobbet. Tematisk analys användes som metod för att analysera data och resulterade i 8 teman: Ett förhållningssätt, framför allt; Förutsättningar - möjligheter och hinder; Självmedkänsla är något annat- skiljer sig från andra metoder; Skapar och främjar balans; Bättre hälsa och glädje; Nya arbetssätt och bibehållen prestation; Synligt utövande? och Nytt i organisatorisk kontext. Resultatet visade att respondenterna sammantaget upplevde flertalet positiva resultat både psykiskt och fysiskt. Framför allt beskriver deltagarna att de utvecklat ett mer hjälpsamt förhållningssätt som bidrar till en större balans i arbetet och i livet. Det finns goda förutsättningar att använda förhållningssättet på egen hand på arbetet. Svårigheten är att använda förhållningsättet kontinuerligt när både ens egna inre krav och organisationens yttre krav upplevs fortsatt höga. Deltagarna upplever att självmedkänsla oftast bemöts med nyfikenhet och intresse. Vår studie visar på att introducera detta förhållningssätt kan bidra till ett mer hållbart arbetsliv. / The purpose of this study was to investigate and gain a deeper understanding of participantsthoughts and experience of using self-compassion in the workplace. Self-compassion is described as a new concept within organizations, among employees and leaders. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five participants who had taken an online course in Self-compassion at work. Thematic analysis was used as a method to analyse the data and resulted in 8 themes: An approach, above all; Prerequisites - Opportunities and obstacles; Self-compassion is something else - different from other methods; Creates and promotes balance; Better health and happiness; New ways of working and sustained performance; Visible practice? and New in an organizational context. The results indicated that the respondents overall experienced a majority of positive results, both psychologically and physically. Above all it is a helpful approach to use which contributes to a greater balance at work but also in life. They described good conditions for using self-compassion on their own at work. The difficulty lies in consistently applying the approach when both one´s own internal demands and the organization´s external demands continue to be high. The respondent’s experience is that Self-compassion is often met with curiosity and interest. Our study shows that introducing this approach can contribute to a more sustainable work life.

L’épuisement professionnel (ÉP) chez les psychothérapeutes constitue une problématique ayant un impact sur la qualité des soins offerts à des patients généralement vulnérables ou en état de détresse psychologique. Certaines recherches s’intéressant à l’étude de l’ÉP chez les psychothérapeutes ont fait état que certaines vulnérabilités narcissiques puissent prédisposer à l’ÉP. L’objectif principal de cette étude est de mieux comprendre l’influence que peuvent avoir les vulnérabilités narcissiques sur les symptômes de l’ÉP en prenant en considération le contexte de pratique. En deuxième temps, cette étude tente d’explorer la relation que l’empathie peut entretenir à la fois avec l’ÉP et avec le modèle à l’étude. Nous avons également pris en compte certaines variables démographiques. Afin de répondre aux objectifs de recherche, 240 participants âgés entre 24 et 77 ans ont été invités à remplir une batterie de questionnaires auto-administrés sur les variables à l’étude. Ces questionnaires sont le Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI), le Hypersensitive Narcissim Scale (HSNS), le Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), le Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), le Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), le Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL), et un questionnaire à propos des informations démographiques et du contexte de pratique de psychothérapie. Des analyses bivariées, de corrélation de Pearson et de régressions multiples hiérarchiques ont été conduites afin de répondre aux objectifs et aux hypothèses proposées. Les résultats indiquent, dans un premier temps, un lien négatif entre l’ÉP et différentes variables liées au contexte de pratique tel que le nombre d’années d’expérience de pratique en psychothérapie, et, dans iv un deuxième temps, plusieurs liens significatifs entre différentes mesures de l’ÉP et plusieurs aspects du narcissisme, majoritairement associé à la dimension vulnérable. L’empathie semble également avoir un rôle prédicteur de l’ÉP. La discussion rend compte du lien entre les variables démographiques et liées au contexte de pratique et l’ÉP, entre le narcissisme, plus particulièrement les aspects s’étant révélés significatifs lors des analyses, et l’ÉP, et du lien entre l’empathie, le narcissisme et l’ÉP, afin de réfléchir au rôle de l’empathie dans le modèle à l’étude. Les implications cliniques et scientifiques découlant des résultats, les limites de l’étude ainsi que les pistes de recherche futures sont présentées.

The relational identity threat response model describes how workplace relationships experiencing relational identity threat predict discretionary workplace behavior (i.e. momentary organizational voice, momentary behavioral engagement, and momentary supervisor-directed deviance). More specifically, the model utilizes an experience sampling methodology to capture the ebb and flow or momentary changes within supervisor-subordinate relationships with a focus on potential negative shifts in a subordinate’s relational identity with his/her supervisor. By examining momentary behavior, meaning actions subordinates take within a short period of time such as the last few hours, I draw attention to the often overlooked effects of dynamic workplace relationships, arguing that the ebb and flow within supervisor-subordinate interactions play a critical role in subordinate choice as to the amount of momentary organizational voice, momentary behavioral engagement, and momentary supervisor-directed deviance to offer. That is, I utilize recent developments within social identity theory (Brewer & Gardner, 1996; Sluss & Ashforth, 2007) to examine how subordinates reconcile relational identity threat, or potential shifts in the nature of ‘who we are’ (Sluss & Ashforth, 2007). Further, the data support the argument that momentary relational voice, which is communication to the supervisor focused on improving the workplace relationship or relational functioning, partially mediates relational identity threat’s consequences for positive discretionary workplace behavior (i.e. momentary organizational voice, momentary behavioral engagement). Additionally, I draw attention to self-compassion (i.e. how a subordinate treats him or herself [Neff, 2003a]), which moderates subordinate responses to relational identity threat within a supervisor-subordinate relationship.

Injury is a common and emotionally painful aspect of sport participation for female athletes. Playing through injury is normalized in sport culture; unfortunately, this practice holds short- and long-term health risks. Self-compassion has been endorsed as a resource for female athletes coping with injury and is purported to result in better health-related choices. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of self-compassion in competitive women athletes’ self-care behaviours following emotionally painful experiences of injury. Participants were 159 female athletes ranging in age from 18-49 years who completed an online survey. Five measures of emotional pain were used: negative affect, threat appraisal, badness rating, emotional difficulty, and a composite score comprised of the previous four measures. Self-compassion was negatively related to negative affect (r = -.26, p < .01), threat appraisal (r = -.19, p < .05), and the emotional pain composite score (r = -.18, p < .05) but not to badness rating or emotional difficulty rating. Self-compassion did not contribute unique variance, beyond self-esteem and athletic identity, in the emotional pain measures. The emotional pain composite score was negatively related to self-compassionate reactions (r = -.23, p < .01), positive reactions (r = -.30, p < .01), and perseverant reactions (r = -.16, p < .05) and positively related to ruminative reactions (r = .54, p < .01), passive reactions (r = .24, p < .01), and self-critical reactions (r = .48, p < .01). Unexpectedly, emotional pain was positively correlated with stopping training (r = .34, p < .01), reduced training frequency (r = .33, p < .01), reduced training intensity (r = .27, p < .01), and reduced training duration (r = .33, p < .01) and not significantly related to responsible reactions or stopping the session in which the injury was incurred. Neither self-compassion nor fear of self-compassion moderated the relationship between emotional pain and self-care behaviours. Participants also completed an open-ended question in which they described in detail everything they did to care for their injuries. A codebook was developed and used to analyze the responses. Self-care behaviours fell into the following categories: diagnostics, rest, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, treatment, and training accommodations. Athletes reported using an average of 3.38 self-care behaviours - most commonly describing obtaining a medical diagnosis and undergoing treatment. Self-compassion was not related to the number of self-care behaviours used by participants or the use of any individual behaviour. Overall, the results suggest that self-compassion plays a role in women athletes’ injury experiences; however, likely due to the complex and multifaceted nature of injury, the relationships might not manifest in perfect concordance with theoretical conceptualizations.

Au cours des trois dernières décennies, un nombre grandissant de chercheurs et de cliniciens se sont intéressés à la méditation comme stratégie de régulation attentionnelle et émotionnelle. Plusieurs études ont mis en évidence un lien entre la pratique de la méditation en pleine conscience, l’alliance thérapeutique et l’empathie. Plus récemment, des pratiques méditatives portant sur l’amour bienveillant et la compassion ont également suscité l’intérêt de la communauté scientifique. Les pratiques de méditation de compassion pourraient s’avérer tout aussi utiles que la pleine conscience dans le développement de l’empathie et offriraient de surcroit une certaine protection contre la fatigue empathique. L’objectif principal de cette thèse consiste à mieux comprendre l’impact de la méditation de compassion sur l’empathie des psychothérapeutes. À cette fin, la thèse est composée de deux articles explorant le lien entre la méditation de compassion et l’empathie des psychothérapeutes sous des angles complémentaires. Le premier article présente une revue des écrits portant sur le lien entre la pratique de la méditation de compassion et l’empathie des psychothérapeutes. L’objectif de cette revue des écrits est de répondre à la question suivante : la méditation de compassion peut-elle contribuer au développement de l’empathie des psychothérapeutes? Étant donné les nombreux liens et les chevauchements entre les pratiques de méditation en pleine conscience et les pratiques de méditation de compassion, les études portant sur le lien entre pleine conscience et empathie sont également considérées dans cette revue des écrits. Il apparaît, au terme de cette revue de littérature, que les pratiques de méditation de compassion peuvent augmenter l’activation de circuits neuronaux importants pour l’empathie. Ces pratiques de méditation semblent également améliorer l’empathie affective et la justesse de la perception empathique lorsque ces variables sont mesurées à l’aide d’échelles d’auto-évaluation. La méditation de compassion diminuerait également l’intensité des affects négatifs accompagnant l’empathie pour la douleur d’autrui. Tout en permettant de constater que la méditation de compassion semble avoir des impacts positifs sur divers aspects de l’empathie, la revue des écrits présentée dans le premier chapitre a permis de relever certaines limites des études citées et de suggérer quelques pistes de recherches futures. Ainsi, on note que la méditation en pleine conscience et la méditation de compassion sont souvent présentées conjointement et ce, à des participants n’ayant aucune expérience préalable de méditation. Cela fait en sorte qu’il est difficile de déterminer avec certitude si les bienfaits rapportés par les participants sont attribuables à la méditation de compassion, ou s’ils sont simplement dûs au fait que les participants ont entamé une pratique de méditation. Cela soulève donc la question suivante : quel est l’impact spécifique de la méditation de compassion sur l’empathie des psychothérapeutes, au delà des bienfaits qu’ils retirent déjà de la méditation en pleine conscience? C’est à cette question que tente de répondre l’étude conduite dans le cadre de la présente thèse et qui constitue l’objet du deuxième article. Dans le cadre de cette étude, un entraînement à la méditation de compassion a été offert à trois psychothérapeutes d’expérience ayant déjà une pratique régulière de la méditation en pleine conscience. L’entraînement proposé consistait en une pratique guidée de la méditation de compassion, offerte sur un enregistrement audio-numérique, à raison de vingt minutes par jour, à tous les deux jours, pendant quatre semaines. Des entrevues semi-structurées ont eu lieu avant l’entraînement, puis au terme des quatre semaines d’entraînement, de même que lors d’un suivi effectué quatre semaines plus tard. Une analyse compréhensive du récit phénoménologique des participants a mis en lumière des changements touchant quatre aspects principaux de l’expérience empathique : 1) la relation à soi; 2) l’expérience empathique elle-même; 3) l’expérience d’une relation thérapeutique; et 4) l’intégration du changement. À travers ces quatre aspects, des changements touchant diverses dimensions de l’expérience empathique sont abordés comme : la compassion pour soi, la pression de performance, la qualité de la présence à l’autre, l’acceptation de l’autre, la tolérance à la souffrance, et l’amour altruiste. Cette étude a donc permis de constater que même des psychothérapeutes d’expérience ayant déjà une pratique régulière de méditation en pleine conscience peuvent retirer des bienfaits de la méditation de compassion, tant au niveau de leur expérience empathique qu’au niveau de la prévention de la fatigue empathique et de l’épuisement professionnel. Cette thèse apporte donc une contribution originale à la compréhension de l’impact spécifique de la méditation de compassion sur l’empathie des psychothérapeutes en permettant de mieux saisir, à partir d’une perspective phénoménologique, l’influence de cette pratique de méditation sur divers aspects et dimensions de l’expérience empathique. En donnant la parole à des psychothérapeutes d’expérience ayant déjà une pratique de méditation en pleine conscience, l’étude met en lumière les bienfaits propres à la méditation de compassion au niveau de l’expérience empathique et au niveau de la prévention de la fatigue empathique. À ce titre, elle offre des pistes permettant d’améliorer tant la formation de base que la formation continue des psychothérapeutes en s’appuyant sur des données scientifiques probantes.

There is a growing body of research in support of the relationship between self-compassion and psychological health (Neff, Kirkpatrick &amp; Rude, 2007). However, studies are limited on the malleability of self-compassion specifically within clinical populations, and its influence on psychiatric symptom reduction (Raes, 2011). This study therefore aimed to explore self-compassion, through examination of the underlying components (self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness), and their impact on maladaptive functioning, specifically for participants diagnosed with PTSD. The study used an exploratory mixed methods design, with eight participants recruited by their attendance at two PTSD CBT/IPT (with self-compassion) group treatment interventions. Participants were adults, with a diagnosis of PTSD and a history of recurrent or current depression. Participants attended a group interview and two therapists who facilitated each treatment group were also interviewed. Participants completed quantitative measures pre and post intervention; Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003a) and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (Blake et al., 1995), and session data was recorded using the PTSD checklist (PCL-C; Weathers, Litz, Huska &amp; Keane, 1994) and the Session Feedback Form (AccEPT Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service). The findings demonstrate the importance that individuals place on self-compassion in their PTSD recovery, particularly in relation to self-kindness and the generation of positive self-belief and a compassionate inner-voice. The study also indicates that a clinically significant change in self-compassion is possible for individuals with PTSD, supporting the malleability of self-compassion within clinical populations.

ABSTRACT High levels of trauma within the South African society affect the majority of the population either directly or indirectly. In order to assist individuals overcome such traumatic incidents, many companies in South Africa have contracted with Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Providers to provide counselling to employees. These EAP counsellors are often the first mental health professionals to be exposed to a client’s traumatic story. Consequently, such counsellors may be vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF). The consequences of EAP counsellors working with traumatised clients have been relatively unexplored. Therefore, this study proposed that EAP trauma counsellors are vulnerable within their scope of work and are an important group of professionals to be further investigated. Furthermore, leading authors in the field of trauma argue that both individual characteristics and environmental factors play a role in the development of CF. However, research into the process by which CF develops is extremely limited. Hence, this study attempted to explore this process through identifying possible core variables such as level of exposure, empathy and affect intensity and exploring their link to CF. The study was based on Figley’s (1995) Trauma Transmission Model, Dutton and Rubinstein’s (1995) Ecological Model and McRitchie’s (2006) Refined Model for Trauma Workers. The data was collected from 60 EAP counsellors, through self report measures. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlations, a stepwise regression, two independent sample t-tests, and analysis of variance. Results revealed that 28.34% of the sample fell within the range for CF. There were significant correlations between Level of Exposure to traumatic material and CF; between levels of empathy and CF and between Affect Intensity and Empathy. There was no significant correlation between Affect Intensity and CF. Furthermore, the stepwise regression indicated that 56% of CF may be explained by a combination of four interacting variables, that is, Level of Exposure, Fantasy, Personal Distress and Perspective Taking.

<p>The current research study examined the way one’s relationship with self affects their relational intimacy with others, while accounting for the role of social media has in influencing this effect. This study uses self-compassion to examine one’s relationship with self and expands on the current knowledge that self-compassion influences one’s relationships. It was hypothesized that self-compassion would be positively associated with relational intimacy and negatively associated with social media use. A total of 173 participants contributed to this study. No significant relationship was found between self-compassion and social media use, as measured by social media use integration in to social routines and emotional connection, and integration into social routines. There was a significant positive relationship between self-compassion and relational intimacy but no support for social media use was a significant mediating variable.</p>

Introduction: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects as many as 30 percent of United States veterans, who are often at greater risk for PTSD, due to adverse military experiences (e.g., combat injury). PTSD occurs when the natural process of recovery is obstructed by the individual’s cognitions and emotions, such as guilt, related to the traumatic event. Guilt has emerged in the literature as a significant contributor to the development and maintenance of PTSD. As such, researchers have sought protective factors that may attenuate the association between guilt and PTSD. One such factor, self-compassion, may facilitate the natural process of recovery, perhaps by promoting the process of posttraumatic growth (PTG) – a process of adaptive growth following a trauma. Our study examined the direct association between guilt and symptoms of PTSD, and the potential mediating role of self-compassion and PTG. At the bivariate level, we hypothesized that guilt will be inversely related to self-compassion and PTG, and positively associated with PTSD symptoms. At the multivariate level, we hypothesized that guilt will be directly related to PTSD symptoms and, further, indirectly related via its serial association with self-compassion and PTG. Methods: Participants (N = 172) in this IRB-approved study were recruited via online invitations distributed to veterans-related social media groups and national organizations (e.g., Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] chapters). Participants were included in the study if they reported experiencing injury during combat. Participants completed self-report surveys including the Differential Emotions Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Short Form, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) – Military Version. Results: At the bivariate level, symptoms of PTSD were positively associated with guilt and both were negatively associated with self-compassion and PTG. Self-compassion and PTG were positively associated. At the multivariate level, guilt exhibited a significant total effect on PTSD that, while remaining significant, was significantly reduced when accounting for self-compassion and PTG. Guilt also exhibited a significant total indirect effect, via its deleterious impact on self-compassion. No other indirect pathways were significant. Conclusions: The association between guilt and symptoms of PTSD may be due, in part, to the stifling effect of guilt on self-compassion and post-traumatic growth. Therapeutically reducing guilt, perhaps via cognitive restructuring (e.g., about the nature of, or role in, trauma), or promoting self-compassion (e.g., via self-soothing, guided meditation; blessings journal) may, in turn, reduce symptoms of PTSD.

Background: There has been growing interest and research into the construct of self-compassion. Self-compassion has been positively associated with psychological well-being, and negatively associated with a range of psychological difficulties. The origins of self-compassion have been linked to early attachment experiences, with poor attachment relationships proposed to result in an inability to self-soothe and take a compassionate stance towards the self. Whilst research in nonclinical populations provides some initial support for these hypotheses, there is a lack of research conducted in clinical populations. Given a large effect size has been found for the association between self-compassion and psychological difficulties, this suggests it may be an important target for therapeutic change. There is a growing evidence-base for the use of compassion-focused therapies, with research suggesting they are effective in reducing mood symptomology. However, less is known about the impact of these therapies on levels of self-compassion, or whether reductions in mood symptomology occur as a causal effect of increased self-compassion. In addition, other ‘third wave’ therapies may also indirectly increase self-compassion. Aims: The research aims were two-fold. The first aim was to conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the effectiveness of compassion-focused and mindfulness-based interventions in increasing levels of self-compassion. The second aim was to examine the role of self-compassion and its relationships with attachment and interpersonal problems in adults attending a primary care psychological therapies service. Specifically, self-compassion and interpersonal problems were hypothesised as potential mediators between insecure attachment and anxiety and depression. Method: To address the first research aim, a systematic search was conducted to identify studies that utilised a compassion and/or mindfulness-based intervention with a clinical population, and included self-compassion as an outcome measure. To address the second research aim, a cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted. Participants (N=74; 60% female, mean age = 40 years) attending a primary care psychological therapies service completed four self-report questionnaires assessing self-compassion, attachment, interpersonal problems and anxiety and depression. Results: The findings of the systematic review suggested that self-compassion can be increased through both compassion-focused and mindfulness-based interventions. However, methodological weaknesses across studies highlighted that further research is needed and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. The results of the empirical study indicated that low self-compassion, attachment avoidance and high levels of interpersonal problems were all associated with increased emotional distress. Furthermore, self-compassion mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and emotional distress and anxiety. Interpersonal problems was not a significant mediator. Conclusions: Taken collectively, the findings here suggest that self-compassion may be an important target in psychological therapy. In addition, results of the mediation analysis indicated that low self-compassion can be a pathway to overall emotional distress and anxiety for individuals with attachment avoidance. This provides support for the theory that self-compassion is linked to early attachment experiences.