SELF-COMPASSION: CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, CORRELATES, & INTERVENTIONS (part III)
I have been exploring the idea of self-compassion through reading books on Eastern Religion, (Buddhism, the Dalai Lama, etc.) analyzing professional research articles, and practicing it in my daily life. I came across one study that was conducted which I feel has great insight into self-compassion. This study will be broken down into several posts because of the amount of information that is available! THIS IS PART III
SELF-COMPASSION: CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, CORRELATES, & INTERVENTIONS
Laura K. Barnard and John F. Curry (Duke University)
Assessment Tool:
Dr. Kristin Neff developed the Neff Self-Compassion Scale which is a nearly universally used to measure of self-compassion. The tool is a 26-question Likert scale that measures the main components of self-compassion (Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness) and their counterparts (Self-Judgment, Isolation, and Over-Identification).
Results from the Self-Compassion Scale:
One study found that “undergraduates in the highest quartile of self-compassion had significantly higher mean scores on self-reported kindness to self and others than students who scored in the lowest quartile on self compassion.”
Another study found that Buddhists who practice Vipassana, a type of meditation that cultivates mindfulness, interdependence, and compassion had significantly higher total self-compassion scores in comparison than undergraduates.” The Buddhists that were surveyed practiced Vipassana for an average of 8 years (ranged from 1-40 years) and the results yielded that the longer someone practiced Vipassana (in years) the more self-compassion they possessed.
Barnard, L. K. & Curry, J. F. (2011). Self-Compassion: Conceptualizations, correlates, & interventions. Review of General Psychology, 15(4), 289-303.
Related Links:
See how Self-Compassionate you are @ http://www.self-compassion.org/test-your-self-compassion-level.html (Neff Self-Compassion Scale)
Quick description of Vipassana @ http://www.vipassanadhura.com/
Indepth Vipassana @ http://www.vipassanadhura.com/whatis.htm
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