Intresset för self-compassions effekt på psykologiskt välbefinnande har ökat. Self-compassion är negativt associerat med självkritik, ångest och upptagenhet av och utvärdering av den egna kroppen. Self-compassion anses skydda mot de negativa effekterna av perfektionism. Eftersom self-compassion tros förbättra mental hälsa är det av vikt att undersöka vilka variabler som predicerar self-compassion. Denna studies syfte var att undersöka om variablerna kroppsuppfattning och perfektionism predicerade self-compassion. Självskattningsformulären Self-compassion Scale Short Form, Frosts´s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale och Body Shape Questionnaire-8C administrerades till deltagarna. Resultatet beräknades med hjälp av hierarkiska regressionsanalyser. Resultatet påvisade att subskalan för perfektionism, Concern over Mistakes och Doubts about Actions, och kön signifikant predicerade self-compassion och förklarade en signifikant andel av variansen i self-compassion. Kroppsuppfattning predicerade inte self-compassion signifikant och förklarade inte en signifikant andel av variansen i self-compassion. Framtida forskning angående eventuell överrensstämmelse mellan perfektionism och kroppsuppfattning önskas. / The interest of the effect of self-compassion on psychological wellbeing has increased. Self-compassion is negatively associated with self-criticism, anxiety and obsession over and evaluation of the own body. Self-compassion is considered to protect against the negative effects of perfectionism. Since self-compassion is believed to improve mental health, it is important to investigate which variables that predict self-compassion. The aim of this study was to examine if the variables body image and perfectionism predicted self-compassion. The self- report questionnaires Self-compassion Scale Short Form, Frosts´s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and Body Shape Questionnaire-8C were administered to the participants. The result was calculated using hierarchical regression analysis. The result demonstrated that the subscale regarding perfectionism, Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Actions, and sex significantly predicted self-compassion and explained a significant proportion of the variance in self-compassion. Body image did not significantly predict self-compassion and did not explain a significant proportion of the variance in self-compassion. Further research regarding potential concordance between perfectionism and body image is desirable.

Psykisk ohälsa hos ungdomar är ett växande problem och tonårstiden är en sårbar period för utveckling av bland annat stress, ångest och depression, tillstånd där skam och självkritik ofta ingår. Vidare har svårigheter att reglera känslor identifierats som en orsak till psykiska problem. Compassionfokuserad terapi (CFT) är en behandlingsform som har tagits fram för att fånga upp patienter som upplever skam och självkritik och metoden har god evidens för en vuxen population. Däremot finns det färre studier där behandlingens utfall undersökts för ungdomar, i synnerhet forskning där ungdomarnas egna erfarenheter av terapin studerats. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie var att undersöka upplevelser av känslor efter avslutad compassionfokuserad gruppbehandling hos ungdomar med lindrig till måttlig grad av stress, ångest och depression. Tjugosex deltagare, 21 kvinnor, tre män och två icke-binära, i åldersgruppen 15-20 år intervjuades i fokusgrupper, och materialet analyserades med tematisk analys. I analyserna framkom olika beskrivningar av känslor som tolkades i fem teman: Förståelse för sig själv, Förändring, Gruppallians, Upplevelsebaserat och Värna Kroppen. Analysen ledde till slutsatser avseende deltagarnas beskrivningar av känslor som indikerar att olika dimensioner i den compassionfokuserade behandlingen har påverkat deltagarnas förmåga att känna trygghet och medvetandegöra känslor. Möjligheter att skifta perspektiv, få en ökad förståelse för sig själv, känna social tillhörighet, uppleva medveten närvaro och förstå kroppsliga sensationer kan bidra till ökad compassion vilket i sin tur kan påverka förmågan att förstå och reglera känslor. / Mental health issues among adolescents are a growing concern, and adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of stress, anxiety and depression, conditions which often involve elements of shame and self-criticism. Difficulties with emotion regulation have been identified as a cause of mental health problems. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) has been developed to help patients who experience shame and self-criticism, and there is significant evidence that supports its efficiency in an adult population. However, only a few studies have investigated treatment outcomes for adolescents, particularly those examining the youths’ own experience of therapy. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of emotions after completing a compassion-focused treatment in a group of adolescents with mild to moderate levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Twenty-six participants, 21 females, three males, and two non-binary individuals, aged 15-20 years were interviewed in focus groups, and the material was analyzed using thematic analysis. In the analysis different descriptions of the participants' emotions emerged, which was interpreted into five themes: Self-Understanding, Change, Group Alliance, Experience-Based, and Care of the Body. The analysis led to conclusions about the participants' descriptions of emotions, which indicate that different dimensions of the compassion-focused treatment have influenced the participants’ ability to feel secure and be aware of their emotional experience. The opportunity to shift perspective, increase self-understanding, feel social belonging, experience mindfulness and understand bodily sensations may contribute to increased compassion and capacity to understand and regulate emotions.

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.

Self-compassion is receiving increasing interest from psychologists and researchers due to its potential role in wellbeing and mental health however, self-compassion as a unique construct has not been validated. This research utilised pilot studies in order to develop an operational definition of self-compassion, separate from other similar constructs. A multi-trait multi- method approach to construct validation was utilised to assess self-compassion‟s discriminant and convergent validity in relation to the constructs of self-esteem and compassion for others in a community sample of 307. Self-compassion was then evaluated for its role in mental health and wellbeing when assessed against the two comparison constructs. Results demonstrated discriminant validity to both comparison constructs but convergent validity only in regards to self-esteem, providing partial support for the construct validity of self- compassion. As hypothesised support was found for self-compassion as a unique predictor in regards to wellbeing, but its role could not be determined for mental health. The results are discussed in terms self-compassion‟s functional relationships with comparison constructs and therapeutic utility. Recommendations for the direction of future research are discussed.

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.

<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.

Background: Previous research has reported positive correlations between perfectionism, anxiety and depression within community adolescent samples. Psychological distress has the potential to develop into adulthood; therefore consideration is required about potential mechanisms that could positively impact on this trajectory. Self-compassion has been shown to be negatively associated with psychopathology and positively related to psychological well-being. It has also been found to be inversely related to maladaptive perfectionism (negative aspects of perfectionism) in adult populations. No previous studies have examined both constructs of perfectionism and self-compassion in an adolescent population and what impact they may have on psychological distress and well-being. Aims: This research had two aims: 1. Conduct a systematic literature review exploring the relationship between perfectionism and anxiety/stress in young people; 2. Establish empirically whether perfectionism and self-compassion have a role in the prediction of psychological distress and psychological well-being in an adolescent population. Method: For the first aim a systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies that explored the relationships between perfectionism and anxiety/stress in young people. Fourteen papers were identified which were subsequently subjected to methodological appraisal using quality criteria. To address the second aim an empirical study was conducted. It was a cross-sectional, quantitative design using self-report surveys, in an adolescent population (n=128; 64.1% female, mean age 16.24 years) across schools in Edinburgh. Results: The results of the systematic review suggested that there is a significant relationship between perfectionism and anxiety and/or stress in young people; however, some inconsistent results were found between the perfectionism subtypes and their impact on anxiety. Methodologically, the studies held good internal validity, but external validity was poor meaning that the ability to generalise findings beyond the remit of the studies was questionable. The results of the empirical study demonstrated a significant relationship between perfectionism and self-compassion and a subsequent relationship with psychological distress and psychological well-being in the adolescent population. An interaction effect between perfectionism and self-compassion was also established for some of the variables, with self-compassion playing a particularly significant role in this relationship. Conclusions: Overall, there is evidence to suggest a link between perfectionism and psychopathology in adolescents. The factors of perfectionism and self-compassion demonstrated a significant relationship, with both constructs having an impact on psychological well-being in particular. Self-compassion demonstrated a strong predictive relationship to both psychological distress and psychological well-being. The significant findings regarding self-compassion in particular suggest that it may be a potential strategy for working with young people (either clinically or in academic settings) who experience psychological distress related to perfectionistic tendencies. Further research exploring perfectionism and self-compassion and the link with psychopathology in adolescents is much needed. In particular, studies are required which attempt to focus on this area with alternative designs (non cross-sectional), different methodologies and various clinical and non-clinical adolescent populations.