Cultivating the Compassionate Self : an Exploration of the Mechanisms of Change in Compassionate Mind Training
(2022) In Mindfulness p.66-79- Abstract
Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the mechanisms of change that mediate the impact of a compassionate mind training (CMT) intervention, in particular, whether changes in compassion, fears of compassion and heart rate variability (HRV) would mediate the effects of a brief CMT intervention on psychological vulnerability factors, mental health indicators and positive affect. Methods: Using a longitudinal design, general population participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: compassionate mind training (n = 56) and wait list control (n = 37). Participants in the CMT condition attended a psychoeducation session and practiced a set of core CMT exercises for 2 weeks. Self-report measures of compassion, fears... (More)
Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the mechanisms of change that mediate the impact of a compassionate mind training (CMT) intervention, in particular, whether changes in compassion, fears of compassion and heart rate variability (HRV) would mediate the effects of a brief CMT intervention on psychological vulnerability factors, mental health indicators and positive affect. Methods: Using a longitudinal design, general population participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: compassionate mind training (n = 56) and wait list control (n = 37). Participants in the CMT condition attended a psychoeducation session and practiced a set of core CMT exercises for 2 weeks. Self-report measures of compassion, fears of compassion, self-criticism, shame, depression, stress and positive affect were completed, and HRV was assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Results: Mediation analyses revealed that increases in compassion for self and from others and reductions in fears of compassion for self, for others and from others mediated the effects of CMT on self-criticism and shame. In depression and stress, compassion for the self and from others and fears of compassion for the self emerged as significant mediators. Compassion for the self and from others and fears of compassion for self and from others significantly mediated the effect of CMT in safe affect. Compassion for the self, fears of compassion for self and for others and HRV mediated changes in relaxed affect. Conclusions: Cultivating a compassionate mind/self-identity through the core components of CMT may stimulate vagal regulatory activity and positively impact one’s ability to experience and be open to compassion, and thus promote emotion regulation, well-being and mental health.
(Less)
- author
- Matos, Marcela ; Duarte, Cristiana ; Duarte, Joana LU ; Pinto-Gouveia, José ; Petrocchi, Nicola and Gilbert, Paul
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Compassion, Compassionate mind training, Fears of compassion, Heart rate variability, Mechanisms of change, Mediation
- in
- Mindfulness
- issue
- 13
- pages
- 66 - 79
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85117489374
- ISSN
- 1868-8527
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12671-021-01717-2
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
- id
- e15b7a9a-7c4e-461b-ae2f-9bd0a2cece3b
- date added to LUP
- 2021-11-18 12:00:35
- date last changed
- 2022-04-27 05:49:11
@article{e15b7a9a-7c4e-461b-ae2f-9bd0a2cece3b,
abstract = {{<p>Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the mechanisms of change that mediate the impact of a compassionate mind training (CMT) intervention, in particular, whether changes in compassion, fears of compassion and heart rate variability (HRV) would mediate the effects of a brief CMT intervention on psychological vulnerability factors, mental health indicators and positive affect. Methods: Using a longitudinal design, general population participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: compassionate mind training (n = 56) and wait list control (n = 37). Participants in the CMT condition attended a psychoeducation session and practiced a set of core CMT exercises for 2 weeks. Self-report measures of compassion, fears of compassion, self-criticism, shame, depression, stress and positive affect were completed, and HRV was assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Results: Mediation analyses revealed that increases in compassion for self and from others and reductions in fears of compassion for self, for others and from others mediated the effects of CMT on self-criticism and shame. In depression and stress, compassion for the self and from others and fears of compassion for the self emerged as significant mediators. Compassion for the self and from others and fears of compassion for self and from others significantly mediated the effect of CMT in safe affect. Compassion for the self, fears of compassion for self and for others and HRV mediated changes in relaxed affect. Conclusions: Cultivating a compassionate mind/self-identity through the core components of CMT may stimulate vagal regulatory activity and positively impact one’s ability to experience and be open to compassion, and thus promote emotion regulation, well-being and mental health.</p>}},
author = {{Matos, Marcela and Duarte, Cristiana and Duarte, Joana and Pinto-Gouveia, José and Petrocchi, Nicola and Gilbert, Paul}},
issn = {{1868-8527}},
keywords = {{Compassion; Compassionate mind training; Fears of compassion; Heart rate variability; Mechanisms of change; Mediation}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{13}},
pages = {{66--79}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Mindfulness}},
title = {{Cultivating the Compassionate Self : an Exploration of the Mechanisms of Change in Compassionate Mind Training}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01717-2}},
doi = {{10.1007/s12671-021-01717-2}},
year = {{2022}},
}