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The Relationship Among the Components of Self-compassion: A Pilot Study Using a Compassionate Writing Intervention to Enhance Self-kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness

Author

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  • Aljoscha Dreisoerner

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

  • Nina Mareen Junker

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

  • Rolf Dick

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Abstract

Self-compassion has been theorized to have three components, each with a positive pole and a negative pole: self-kindness versus self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification. Neff (Self Identity 2:85–101, 2003a) proposes that they mutually influence each other, however, this proposition has not been tested yet. We conducted a pilot study to see if improvements from training one component spilled over to the other two—and whether these trainings had an impact on well-being. 80 participants completed 8 weeks of self-compassionate writing exercises to enhance either self-kindness, common humanity, or mindfulness. Trait self-compassion was assessed using the six-factor model of the self-compassion scale. To address issues of alpha-error-inflation, the false discovery rate was fixed at 5%, and critical p values were adjusted accordingly. Participants in the mindfulness condition reported increased total self-compassion (p = .009), which was accompanied by increased self-kindness (p = .027) and lower isolation (p = .045). Participants in the common humanity condition reported improved total self-compassion (p = .018), lower over-identification (p = .045), and higher life-satisfaction (p = .049). The training in self-kindness failed to improve self-kindness or any other factor. These findings provide initial evidence that the components of self-compassion mutually enhance each other. They also emphasize the importance of mindfulness within the conceptualization of self-compassion.

Suggested Citation

  • Aljoscha Dreisoerner & Nina Mareen Junker & Rolf Dick, 2021. "The Relationship Among the Components of Self-compassion: A Pilot Study Using a Compassionate Writing Intervention to Enhance Self-kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-47, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-019-00217-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-019-00217-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonia Ypsilanti, 2018. "Lonely but avoidant—the unfortunate juxtaposition of loneliness and self-disgust," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-4, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tong Zhao & Ying Yang & Lijuan Cui, 2024. "How Self-Compassion Components Develop in Adolescents? Evidence from Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis with Gender Considerations," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(5), pages 2767-2784, October.
    2. Aljoscha Dreisoerner & Anamarija Klaic & Rolf Dick & Nina M. Junker, 2023. "Self-Compassion as a Means to Improve Job-Related Well-Being in Academia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 409-428, February.

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