Self-Compassion Buffers the Psychological Distress from Perceived Discrimination Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Emerging Adults: A Longitudinal Study

Regulation of Stress Physiology While Parenting: a Randomized Micro-trial of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Parenting and Salivary Alpha Amylase

Sensitive parenting early in life sets children up for healthy development, and this type of parenting draws on the parent's compassion and physiological regulation. Loving-kindness meditations (LKM) increase compassion and reduce physiological responses to stressors and so may support sensitive parenting. The current study tested the effects of a LKM on parent sensitivity and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) during a parent-child interaction. One hundred and thirty-six parents (114 mothers, 22 fathers) of toddlers (18-36 months, M = 28.85 months, SD = 5.13) participated in an online survey and were randomly assigned to listen to either a LKM, focused-imagery audio, or podcast during a video call before engaging in a play-based interaction with their toddler. Parent sAA was collected from parents at five points throughout the video call. LKM did not significantly increase parent sensitivity (B = 0.06, p = 0.86); however, there was limited variability in sensitivity in this sample (M = 6.01, SD = 0.89). The LKM did affect sAA activity (B =  - 0.66, p < 0.05) such that parents in the LKM group gradually decreased sympathetic activity across the research session, whereas the podcast group increased sAA levels after the parent-child interaction. Overall, these findings suggest that engaging in compassion and self-compassion can change the pattern of stress physiology in parents of toddlers while parenting.

Perceived discrimination as a predictor of cyberbullying: the mediating role of self-esteem and moderating role of self-compassion

With the popularity of the internet, cyberbullying has emerged as an increasingly serious social issue, particularly affecting college students' behavioral health. This study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of self-compassion (SC) in this relationship. Using a longitudinal design, data were collected from 892 Chinese college students (414 females, 478 males) in two waves spanning 1 year. The present study measured the compassionate self-responding (CS) and reduced uncompassionate self-responding (RUS) as the two dimensions of self-compassion. The study found that (1) perceived discrimination was significantly and positively correlated with cyberbullying (r = 0.085, p < 0.05); (2) self-esteem mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying (Indirect effect = 0.010, SE = 0.004, Boot 95% CI [0.003, 0.019]); (3) RUS moderated both the direct relationship between perceived discrimination and cyberbullying (b = -0.045, SE = 0.019, 95% CI [-0.082, -0.008]) as well as the indirect relationship through self-esteem (b = -0.081, SE = 0.033, 95% CI [-0.146, -0.015]). Simple slope analysis revealed that college students with high RUS exhibited less cyberbullying when facing discrimination, while those low in RUS were more likely to engage in cyberbullying. The SC exhibited similar moderating effects, but CS did not demonstrate significant moderating effects in those relationships. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between perceived discrimination, self-esteem, self-compassion, and cyberbullying and offers novel insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying cyberbullying among college students. The findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem and fostering self-compassion, particularly by addressing uncompassionate self-responding, as a strategy to prevent cyberbullying among disadvantaged college students.

The association of perceived ethnic discrimination and institutional verbal violence with chronic stress in an immigrant sample: The role of protective factors - results from the VIOLIN study

Immigrants are exposed to a variety of stressors, such as ethnic discrimination, and therefore experience a higher risk of developing adverse health outcomes. However, the role of potentially protective psychological factors is not well-studied. The present study addresses the question how discrimination and institutional verbal violence (IVV) are associated with chronic stress in an immigrant sample. In addition, this study highlights moderating effects of migration-specific variables (first or second migration generation and citizenship status). Participants (n = 232; 69.4 % female) completed an online-survey, which included demographics, questionnaires (Everyday Discrimination Scale, EDS; Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-4; Resilience Scale, RS-11; Self-Compassion Scale, SCS-SF) as well as a self-developed questionnaire on institutional verbal violence. Only participants living in Germany with migration background (self or one parent migrated to Germany) were included. Results showed that perceived discrimination and institutional verbal violence were highly associated with chronic stress. Further, self-compassion buffered the connection between discrimination and stress, whereas resilience was no protective factor. The inclusion of migration-specific variables showed that the second-generation sub-group experienced less discrimination-related stress and self-compassion was shown to be particularly protective within this sub-group. Citizenship status did not appear to be a moderator, but especially persons with temporary or permanent residence status, compared to German/EU-citizens, reported higher values of verbal violence and discrimination-related stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering not only psychological but also structural and societal protective and risk factors, as they may be differentially associated with immigrants' stress perceptions. Implications for future research and practical implementations are presented.

Self-compassion moderates the relationship between neuroticism and depression in junior high school students

Neuroticism, an emotion-related personality trait, is often associated with a greater susceptibility to depression. On the other hand, self-compassion involves treating oneself in a peaceful, mindful, and friendly manner, particularly in the face of failure or frustration. The study investigated the relationship between neuroticism and depression in junior high school students, as well as the moderating role of self-compassion. A total of 757 junior high school students participated in the survey, which included the Children's Depression Inventory, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, Short Scale for Chinese, and the Chinese version of the Self-Compassion Scale. The results revealed that neuroticism positively predicted depression, while self-compassion had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between neuroticism and depression. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion were associated with a weaker link between neuroticism and depression. These findings suggest that interventions promoting self-compassion may be beneficial for students exhibiting neurotic tendencies.

Association Between Pandemic Fatigue and Subjective Well-Being: The Indirect Role of Emotional Distress and Moderating Role of Self-Compassion

Objectives: As a stressor in the context of COVID-19 pandemic fatigue is associated with well-being. However, how pandemic fatigue is associated with well-being and what protective factors buffer this negative effect are under investigated. Based on the stress process model and emotion regulation theory, the study examined the indirect effect of pandemic fatigue on subjective well-being through emotional distress and the buffering effect of self-compassion. Methods: Data were collected from 1,162 university students (M _age = 21.61 ± 2.81, female 35.71%) through an online survey. Indirect effect analysis and conditional process analysis were conducted by the SPSS macro PROCESS. Results: Indirect effect of pandemic fatigue on subjective well-being through emotional distress was identified and self-compassion moderated the association between pandemic fatigue and emotional distress. The indirect effect of pandemic fatigue was weaker among participants with high levels of self-compassion than among those with low levels of self-compassion. Conclusion: Pandemic fatigue was negatively associated with subjective well-being through emotional distress at all levels of self-compassion. The findings deepen our understanding of the link between pandemic fatigue and well-being while considering the indirect role of emotional distress and protective function of self-compassion.

Work Stress, Work-Related Rumination, and Depressive Symptoms in University Teachers: Buffering Effect of Self-Compassion

Purpose

The association between work stress and depressive symptoms has been well documented. More research is still needed to further investigate the underlying explanatory process mechanism and the potential protective function of personal resource in attenuating the negative effect of work stress on mental health. To address this gap and informed by the stress process model and emotion regulation theory,the present study examined the indirect role of work-related rumination and the buffering effect of self-compassion in university teachers, a population with increased vulnerabilities for both work stress and mental health issues.

Methods

This study collected data from 727 university teachers (M _age = 37.65 ± 7.77 years, 61.5% women) through an online survey. Indirect effect analysis and moderation effect analysis were implemented using structural equation modeling via Mplus.

Results

Work stress was directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through work-related rumination, and self-compassion moderated the associations between (a) work stress and depressive symptoms and (b) work-related rumination and depressive symptoms. The direct and indirect effects of work stress on depressive symptoms were weaker in university teachers with high levels of self-compassion than in those with low levels of self-compassion.

Conclusion

Work stress was associated with depressive symptoms through a cognitive pathway. The findings deepen our understanding of the link between work stress and mental health outcomes by revealing the indirect role of cognitive processes, the protective function of emotion regulation strategies, and their interplay. Reducing work-related rumination and strengthening self-compassion may constitute effective interventions to alleviate the negative effects of work stress on mental health.

Social Class-Based Discrimination and Psychological Symptoms Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged College Students: The Moderated Mediation Role of Stress Mindset and Rumination

Discrimination as a crucial stressor damages the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals through increased ruminative thinking. A "stress-is-enhancing" mindset may protect the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals under the pressures of perceived discrimination and rumination. This study examined the mediating role of rumination and the moderating role of stress mindset in the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged college students. A total of 919 socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students (48.4% female, ages 17-25) were recruited. The results indicated that perceived discrimination was positively associated with psychological symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students through rumination (B = 0.11, boot SE = 0.01, boot 95% CIs = [0.08, 0.13]). Importantly, stress mindset moderated the indirect association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress through rumination (B = -0.18, boot SE = 0.08, boot 95% CIs = [-0.32, -0.03]). Specifically, compared with individuals with low levels of the stress-is-enhancing mindset, the indirect effect of perceived discrimination on psychological distress through rumination was weaker among individuals with high levels of the stress-is-enhancing mindset. The findings provide support for future intervention practice to promote a stress-is-enhancing mindset to protect the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged college students under the pressures of perceived discrimination and rumination.

Deconstructing Self-Compassion: How the Continued Use of the Total Score of the Self-Compassion Scale Hinders Studying a Protective Construct Within the Context of Psychopathology and Stress

In a new commentary in Mindfulness, Neff once again tried to defend the use of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) total score by arguing that compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding (CS and UCS) are part of a bipolar continuum. In this brief reaction, we refute this notion and also clarify how the continued use of the SCS total score muddies the water of research on self-compassion as a protective variable. We also illustrate how the SCS—by separating CS and UCS—can provide more valid and valuable information on protection and vulnerability within the context of psychopathology and stress than just relying on the total score of the SCS.