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Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress to Psychopathologies among Japanese Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Yasuhiro Kotera

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK)

  • Holly Young

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Sarah Maybury

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Muhammad Aledeh

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

Abstract

As awareness of mental health increases worldwide, how to improve mental health has begun to be discussed in many countries. Stress is known to cause diverse physical and mental health problems, including psychopathologies. On the other hand, our previous studies identified that self-compassion, kindness and understanding towards oneself are key components for good mental health in many populations, including Japanese workers. The government reports that Japanese workers suffer from high rates of mental health problems. However, the mechanism of how self-compassion helps their mental health remains to be evaluated. Accordingly, this study aimed to elucidate how self-compassion intervenes in pathways from stress to psychopathologies, namely depression and anxiety. One hundred and sixty-five Japanese workers completed an online survey regarding self-compassion, depression, anxiety and stress. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. These four variables were significantly inter-related. While self-compassion mediated the pathway from stress to depression, it did not mediate the pathway from stress to anxiety. These exploratory insights assist in understanding the mechanism of how self-compassion improves mental health and inform effective methods to implement self-compassion interventions to the Japanese workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuhiro Kotera & Holly Young & Sarah Maybury & Muhammad Aledeh, 2022. "Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress to Psychopathologies among Japanese Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12423-:d:929384
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yasuhiro Kotera & Katia Correa Vione, 2020. "Psychological Impacts of the New Ways of Working (NWW): A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Yasuhiro Kotera & Prateek Adhikari & David Sheffield, 2021. "Mental health of UK hospitality workers: shame, self-criticism and self-reassurance," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(15-16), pages 1076-1096, December.
    3. Yasuhiro Kotera & Pauline Green & David Sheffield, 2020. "Work-life balance of UK construction workers: relationship with mental health," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 291-303, March.
    4. Yasuhiro Kotera & Akihiko Ozaki & Hirotomo Miyatake & Chie Tsunetoshi & Yoshitaka Nishikawa & Makoto Kosaka & Tetsuya Tanimoto, 2022. "Qualitative Investigation into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Yasuhiro Kotera & Melinda Lyons & Katia Correa Vione & Briony Norton, 2021. "Effect of Nature Walks on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Kenichi Asano & Masao Tsuchiya & Ikuo Ishimura & Shuzhen Lin & Yuki Matsumoto & Haruko Miyata & Yasuhiro Kotera & Eiji Shimizu & Paul Gilbert, 2017. "The development of fears of compassion scale Japanese version," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Fiona J. Clarke & Yasuhiro Kotera & Kirsten McEwan, 2021. "A Qualitative Study Comparing Mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): Practitioners’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Yasuhiro Kotera & Kenichi Asano & Hiromasa Kotera & Remi Ohshima & Annabel Rushforth, 2022. "Mental Health of Japanese Workers: Amotivation Mediates Self-Compassion on Mental Health Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.
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    1. Annabel Rushforth & Mia Durk & Gabby A. A. Rothwell-Blake & Ann Kirkman & Fiona Ng & Yasuhiro Kotera, 2023. "Self-Compassion Interventions to Target Secondary Traumatic Stress in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-14, June.

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