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A qualitative exploration of responses to self‐compassion in a non‐clinical sample
Author(s) -
Campion Maxine,
Glover Lesley
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/hsc.12408
Subject(s) - compassion , thematic analysis , psychology , psychoeducation , self compassion , population , perspective (graphical) , mental health , intervention (counseling) , qualitative research , meditation , empathy , social psychology , psychotherapist , mindfulness , medicine , sociology , psychiatry , social science , environmental health , artificial intelligence , political science , computer science , law , philosophy , theology
Research suggests that being self‐compassionate can have myriad benefits, including life satisfaction, health‐promoting behaviours and improved mental health. Given the possible advantages of being self‐compassionate, it seems critical to explore how to promote this in the general population. This qualitative study aimed to understand responses to the idea of being compassionate to oneself within the general population. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in the North East of England between October 2014 and February 2015, they were analysed using thematic analysis. As part of an intervention study, non‐clinical volunteers watched a psychoeducation video about the concept of self‐compassion and then participated in one of four meditation exercises. Following this, participants were interviewed about their responses to the idea of being self‐compassionate. Three themes were identified: Benefits of Self‐Compassion ; Being Self‐Compassionate and Barriers to Self‐Compassion . Participants believed that being self‐compassionate would be beneficial, for both themselves and the world, but they believed that self‐compassion would make them vulnerable and that others would judge them. Thus, participants were afraid to be the first ones to be self‐compassionate and stated that, in order for self‐compassion to be acceptable, we need to change the perspective of western culture. These findings underscore the importance of understanding society's role in a person's ability to be self‐compassionate. In order to reap the benefits of self‐compassion, we need to create a culture that accepts and encourages this. As practitioners, we are in a position to lead in self‐compassion and to encourage other leaders to promote this as a preventative mental health strategy.