The role of self-compassion in adjustment following myocardial infarction

Background: The thesis investigated the role of self-compassion, defined as “being open to and moved by one‟s own suffering, experiencing feelings of caring and kindness toward one-self, taking an understanding, non-judgmental attitude toward one‟s own inadequacies and failures and recognising that one‟s experience is part of the common human experience” (Neff, 2003b, p. 244) in adjustment following MI.<br/>Adjustment was defined in terms of emotional, cognitive and behavioural response to MI. Previous empirical findings indicate that self-compassion confers resilience dealing with adversity (Leary, Tate, Adams, Batts Allen, &amp; Hancock, 2007; Neff, Hsieh, &amp; Dejitterat, 2005; Neff, Kirkpatrick, &amp; Rude, 2007), and it has recently been hypothesised that self-compassion may be an important mechanism influencing response to health events (Terry &amp; Leary, 2011).<br/><br/>Method: The study sample comprised adults referred to an urban Cardiac Rehabilitation Service following MI (N= 87). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires which assessed self-compassion (Self-compassion scale, SCS, Neff, 2003a), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS, Zigmond &amp; Snaith, 1983) , illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Brief-IPQ, Broadbent, Petrie, Main, &amp; Weinman, 2006) and cardiac symptoms (Ketterer et al., 2008). Cardiac function post MI was assessed using a measure of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Attendance at cardiac rehabilitation (decision to opt in or out) was used as an index of behavioural adjustment.<br/><br/>Results: As predicted, higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower levels of anxiety (p =.001), depression (p =.01), and a reduced tendency to perceive that MI is having a negative emotional impact (p&lt;.01), after statistically controlling for cardiac symptoms. Cardiac function was not associated with emotional adjustment following MI. Self-compassion was not associated with beliefs related to the cognitive representation of cardiac illness, after controlling for other factors. Self- compassion was not statistically significantly associated with an increased tendency to opt in to cardiac rehabilitation.<br/><br/>Discussion: The results provide preliminary evidence which indicates that the “buffering effect” of self-compassion (observed previously in response to academic

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

King's College London

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Pearson, Katherine

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Chadwick, Paul
• de Zoysa, Nicole

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:kclpure.kcl.ac.uk:studenttheses/a3f0f72c-8264-45be-b44e-17e02dacdb43

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kclpure.kcl.ac.uk:studenttheses/a3f0f72c-8264-45be-b44e-17e02dacdb43