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Gepubliceerd in: Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 2/2023

15-03-2023

Self-Compassion for Caregivers of Children in Parentally Bereaved Families: A Theoretical Model and Intervention Example

Auteurs: Na Zhang, Irwin Sandler, Kara Thieleman, Sharlene Wolchik, Karey O’Hara

Gepubliceerd in: Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review | Uitgave 2/2023

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Abstract

Family-based bereavement interventions have shown promises to prevent problem outcomes and promote resilience in parentally bereaved children. Evidence of the broad range of mental and physical health problems following the death of a parent supports the need for a transdiagnostic approach that promotes adaptation and reduces multiple problem outcomes for parentally bereaved families. We discuss self-compassion as a promising framework for a transdiagnostic approach. We argue that three elements of self-compassion—mindfulness (vs. over-identification), self-kindness (vs. self-judgment), and common humanity (vs. isolation)—can facilitate loss-oriented coping, restoration-oriented coping, and the oscillation process between the two. This sets the foundation for individual and family processes that support bereavement adjustment. To explain how self-compassion promotes adjustment outcomes in parentally bereaved families, we review the extant literature with a focus on parental emotion regulation and effective parenting and propose a conceptual model with testable hypotheses to guide more research in this area. The model suggests that caregivers’ self-compassion is a resilience resource for multiple adaptive outcomes for themselves and for their child through its positive impacts on emotion regulation and effective parenting. We illustrate the utility of the framework with an example of a family-based bereavement prevention program that integrated self-compassion training. Future directions for research are discussed.
Voetnoten
1
In Neff (2003a)’s conceptualization, the term “mindfulness” is a component of self-compassion that refers to nonreactive, nonjudgmental, and open-hearted awareness of one’s distressing feelings or thoughts and difficult experiences. In contrast, Kabat-Zinn (2015) defines mindfulness more broadly as “moment-to-moment nonjudgmental awareness” of all experiences, “cultivated by paying attention in a specific way, that is, in the present moment, and as non-reactively, as non-judgementally, and as openheartedly as possible.”.
 
2
Although the RPBF program included low doses of mindfulness training, additional resources were provided to enhance the learning that were made available on the website of the RPBF program.
 
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Metagegevens
Titel
Self-Compassion for Caregivers of Children in Parentally Bereaved Families: A Theoretical Model and Intervention Example
Auteurs
Na Zhang
Irwin Sandler
Kara Thieleman
Sharlene Wolchik
Karey O’Hara
Publicatiedatum
15-03-2023
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review / Uitgave 2/2023
Print ISSN: 1096-4037
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-023-00431-w

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