Abstract
Studies have examined the relationships between self-compassion and variables such as anxiety, depression, and stress. The majority of studies found a negative correlation between self-compassion and either anxiety, stress, or depression, using different measures. We conducted a study to analyze the relations between the score generated by the Self-Compassion Scale-Brazil and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-Short Form (DASS-21), which covers the three symptoms under consideration. A sample of 298 adults (77.5% female) participated in the study. A significant negative correlation was found between self-compassion and all the DASS-21 scores. Significant gender differences were also confirmed regarding self-compassion, with the male participants scoring higher than the females, despite there being no differences between men and women in the DASS-21. Additional analyses for psychotherapy attendance and religious practice provided new data on self-compassion and on the DASS-21 scores in Brazilian adults. The people attending psychotherapy presented lower self-compassion. The practitioners of a Christian religion presented lower scores in the DASS-21 than the participants without a religion. We interpreted the results by comparing them to the studies available and constructing a new hypothesis to explain our findings. As a health construct, knowledge about self-compassion matures with research that includes mental health variables.
Resúmen
Estudios han examinado las relaciones entre autocompasión y variables como ansiedad, depresión y estrés. La mayoría de estos trabajos encontraron una correlación negativa entre autocompasión y ansiedad, estrés y depresión, utilizando diferentes medidas. Se llevó a cabo un estudio para analizar las relaciones entre el score generado por la Escala de Autocompaixão-Brasil y la Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - Forma Reducida (DASS-21), la cual aborda los tres síntomas en pauta. Una muestra de 298 adultos (77,5% mujeres) participó en el estudio. Se encontró una correlación negativa significativa entre autocompasión y todos los escores de la DASS-21. También se confirmaron diferencias significativas de género en la autocompasión, con los hombres presentando escore mayor que las mujeres; sin embargo, no se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en la DASS-21. Análisis complementarios sobre experiencia con psicoterapia y práctica religiosa proporcionaron datos inéditos de escores en autocompasión y en la DASS-21 en adultos brasileños. Personas que hacen psicoterapia presentaron menor autocompasión. Practicantes de religiones cristianas mostraron escores menores en DASS-21. Los resultados se interpretan en comparación con estudios disponibles y nuevas hipótesis. Mientras sea un constructo de la salud, la autocompasión madura con investigación que incluye variables de salud mental.
Resumo
Estudos têm examinado as relações entre autocompaixão e variáveis como ansiedade, depressão e estresse. A maioria desses trabalhos encontrou uma correlação negativa entre autocompaixão e ansiedade, estresse e depressão, utilizando diferentes medidas. Conduziu-se um estudo para analisar as relações entre o escore gerado pela Escala de Autocompaixão-Brasil e a Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – Forma Reduzida (DASS-21), a qual aborda os três sintomas em pauta. Uma amostra de 298 adultos (77,5% mulheres) participou do estudo. Encontrou-se uma correlação negativa significativa entre autocompaixão e todos os escores da DASS-21. Também se confirmou diferenças significativas de gênero na autocompaixão, com os homens apresentando escore maior que as mulheres; entretanto, não foram obtidas diferenças significativas entre homens e mulheres na DASS-21. Análises complementares sobre experiência com psicoterapia e prática religiosa proporcionaram dados inéditos de escores em autocompaixão e na DASS-21 em adultos brasileiros. As pessoas que fazem psicoterapia apresentaram menor autocompaixão. Praticantes de religiões cristãs mostraram escores menores no DASS-21 do que aqueles sem religião. Os resultados são interpretados na comparação com estudos disponíveis e com a construção de novas hipóteses para explicar os achados. Enquanto construto da saúde, a autocompaixão amadurece com a pesquisa que inclui variáveis de saúde mental.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank K. D. Neff and D. R. Bandeira. English revision: M. Webster. This study is an unpublished part of a research project coordinated by the first author initiated at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and concluded at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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The research ethics committee of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais approved the present study (approval number 325.360).
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de Souza, L.K., Policarpo, D. & Hutz, C.S. Self-compassion and Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. Trends in Psychol. 28, 85–98 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00018-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00018-2