A cross-cultural exploration of compassion, and facilitators and inhibitors of compassion in UK and Sri Lankan people

Experience of compassionate care in mental health and community-based services for children and young people: facilitators of, and barriers to compassionate care- a systematic review

Compassion and compassionate care for children and young people (CYP) encompass a variety of emotions, including sympathy, empathy, and sadness for their suffering, alongside actions intended to alleviate their distress. While compassion is a well-recognised concept in health and social care, literature has identified various barriers and facilitators that affect the delivery of compassionate care. These include compassion fatigue, time limitations, organisational and clinical culture, insufficient resources or support, technological advancements, and burdensome administrative tasks. Despite being viewed as essential in health care, the concept of compassionate care remains poorly defined and expressed, particularly in the context of mental health services for CYP. This review explored the perspectives of CYPs, their parents, and staff regarding the compassionate care provided in community services. Additionally, it aimed to identify factors that facilitate or obstruct compassionate care for CYPs in both mental health and community settings services. From June to August 2024, a search was carried out for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature, with additional searches conducted in October 2024. The initial search produced 7,461 articles, with 23 selected for this review. A thematic synthesis organised the studies based on the main themes identified: 'Compassionate care is all about humanity' and 'the complex interplay of facilitators and barriers to compassionate care'. The identified articles highlighted the increasing need for compassionate care in community-based services for CYP, along with the range of facilitators and barriers to providing this care. Lastly, we propose an alternative definition of compassionate care tailored to these services.

The Mediating Role of Compassion in the Relationship Between Nurses' Ethnocultural Empathy and Cultural Sensitivity: Structural Equation Model Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Nurses must possess the capacity for compassionate care and exhibit empathy to promote culturally competent care. This research investigated the mediating role of compassion in the relationship between ethnocultural empathy and intercultural sensitivity among nurses.

METHOD

The study was conducted at a hospital that provides health care services to refugees. In total, 125 nurses were recruited through the simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a personal form and three scales. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS23 and AMOS24.

RESULTS

Nurses' cultural sensitivity positively influenced their compassion competence and ethnocultural empathy. Compassion competence did not function as a full mediator in the relationship between intercultural sensitivity and ethnocultural empathy.

DISCUSSION

This study revealed that exposure to different cultures contributed to compassion competence, ethnocultural empathy, and cultural sensitivity skills in nurses. Cultural competence is a critical component of nursing care; therefore, it should be developed through curriculum revisions and a sensitive and supportive discussion of experiences.

Compassion-based interventions in Asian communities: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

PURPOSE

Practising compassion increases well-being and reduces depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among clinical and non-clinical populations. There is a rapid increase in compassion-based interventions within the past two decades. However, the reviews are limited to predominantly Western cultures. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the literature attempting to promote and increase compassion in Asian communities.

METHOD

Eight randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 2016 to 2021 were included in the meta-analysis with data from 1012 participants across Thailand, Japan, China and Hong Kong. Effect sizes were calculated to test the efficacy of the compassion-based interventions on the self-compassion outcome. Intervention efficacy was tested by comparing the intervention groups against control groups (wait-list control and active control groups) at pre- and post-interventions.

RESULTS

Significant between-group differences in change scores were found on self-report measures of self-compassion with large effect sizes in interventions with wait-list control groups (d = .86) and small effect sizes in interventions with active-control groups (d = .19).

CONCLUSIONS

Although compassion-based interventions are heterogeneous in nature and limited in scope, there is promising evidence of improving self-compassion in Asian communities. This supports for the cross-cultural applicability of compassion-based interventions. However, research within the Asian context is limited and at an infancy stage, signifying the importance of conducting further compassion-based interventions in clinical and non-clinical groups living in the Asian communities.

Exploring the Cross-cultural Applicability of a Brief Compassionate Mind Training: a Study Comparing Sri Lankan and UK People

Objectives

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) is a therapeutic approach proven to be effective for reducing distress and increasing well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a short-term, online version of the CMT on compassion, distress, and well-being in a cross-cultural, non-clinical sample of Sri Lankan and UK people.

Method

A randomized controlled trial with pre-, post-measurements, and a 2-week follow-up was conducted using CMT (n = 21 Sri Lankan, n = 73 UK) and wait-list control (n = 17 Sri Lankan, n = 54 UK) groups. The intervention effects were investigated using a series of repeated-measures ANOVAs using intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

Results

The 2-week CMT was effective in increasing all aspects of compassion in both Sri Lankan and UK people. In addition, some cross-cultural similarities and differences (in the factors affecting compassion) were present in the improvements following CMT between the two countries, which were maintained at a 2-week follow-up.

Conclusion

This study provides promising evidence for the efficacy and cross-cultural applicability of CMT for reducing distress and increasing well-being.