{"id":{"repo_id":"york","oai_identifier":"oai:yorkspace.library.yorku.ca:10315/35831"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/york/oai:yorkspace.library.yorku.ca:10315/35831","repository":{"repo_id":"york","name":"York University","base_url":"https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor Against Mental Illness Self-Stigma","abstract":"Self-stigma, the internalization of public stigma, is a significant hindrance to help-seeking and treatment adherence for mental illness. Stigma reduction strategies have thus far focused on mitigating the negative impact of self-stigma by bolstering self-esteem. However, self-esteem is resistant to change and direct attempts to boost self-esteem have been suggested to foster narcissism and unhealthy attachment to positive self-image. Alternatively, self-compassion has been demonstrated to offer similar benefits as self-esteem with fewer downsides. More importantly, self-compassion can be improved with short interventions. Study One is a mixed method study that examined how self-compassion, and the different facets of self-compassion, related to mental health stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions. Study One compared self-compassion and self-esteem as predictors of self-stigma related to having a mental illness (SSMI) and self-stigma of seeking help for mental illness (SSOSH). Regression analyses showed that self-compassion uniquely predicted both forms of self-stigma and explained more of the variances in both SSMI and SSOSH than self-esteem in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 185). Findings also suggest that the self-kindness aspect of self-compassion may be more protective against SSMI, whereas common humanity is particularly relevant for SSOSH and help-seeking. The qualitative component of Study One revealed both interpersonal and intrapersonal themes in participants perception and experience of SSOSH. Study Two explored the potential of a brief one-time intervention to improve self-stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions in a separate sample of undergraduate students (N = 133). Study Two also found evidence that self-efficacy and perceived self-competence, two factors positively related to self-compassion, may deter professional help-seeking. Findings of the present set of studies indicate that self-compassion is a promising target for intervention to reduce both forms of self-stigma identified as barriers to mental health recovery.","abstract_html":"Self-stigma, the internalization of public stigma, is a significant hindrance to help-seeking and treatment adherence for mental illness. Stigma reduction strategies have thus far focused on mitigating the negative impact of self-stigma by bolstering self-esteem. However, self-esteem is resistant to change and direct attempts to boost self-esteem have been suggested to foster narcissism and unhealthy attachment to positive self-image. Alternatively, self-compassion has been demonstrated to offer similar benefits as self-esteem with fewer downsides. More importantly, self-compassion can be improved with short interventions. Study One is a mixed method study that examined how self-compassion, and the different facets of self-compassion, related to mental health stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions. Study One compared self-compassion and self-esteem as predictors of self-stigma related to having a mental illness (SSMI) and self-stigma of seeking help for mental illness (SSOSH). Regression analyses showed that self-compassion uniquely predicted both forms of self-stigma and explained more of the variances in both SSMI and SSOSH than self-esteem in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 185). Findings also suggest that the self-kindness aspect of self-compassion may be more protective against SSMI, whereas common humanity is particularly relevant for SSOSH and help-seeking. The qualitative component of Study One revealed both interpersonal and intrapersonal themes in participants perception and experience of SSOSH. Study Two explored the potential of a brief one-time intervention to improve self-stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions in a separate sample of undergraduate students (N = 133). Study Two also found evidence that self-efficacy and perceived self-competence, two factors positively related to self-compassion, may deter professional help-seeking. Findings of the present set of studies indicate that self-compassion is a promising target for intervention to reduce both forms of self-stigma identified as barriers to mental health recovery.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zhao, Wenfeng"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Goldberg, Joel"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-03-05","date_published":"2019-03-05","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:34:03Z","subjects":["Social psychology"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10315/35831","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Goldberg, Joel"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zhao, Wenfeng"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2019-03-05T14:46:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-03-05T14:46:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2019-03-05"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Social psychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. 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Study One is a mixed method study that examined how self-compassion, and the different facets of self-compassion, related to mental health stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions. Study One compared self-compassion and self-esteem as predictors of self-stigma related to having a mental illness (SSMI) and self-stigma of seeking help for mental illness (SSOSH). Regression analyses showed that self-compassion uniquely predicted both forms of self-stigma and explained more of the variances in both SSMI and SSOSH than self-esteem in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 185). Findings also suggest that the self-kindness aspect of self-compassion may be more protective against SSMI, whereas common humanity is particularly relevant for SSOSH and help-seeking. The qualitative component of Study One revealed both interpersonal and intrapersonal themes in participants perception and experience of SSOSH. Study Two explored the potential of a brief one-time intervention to improve self-stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions in a separate sample of undergraduate students (N = 133). Study Two also found evidence that self-efficacy and perceived self-competence, two factors positively related to self-compassion, may deter professional help-seeking. Findings of the present set of studies indicate that self-compassion is a promising target for intervention to reduce both forms of self-stigma identified as barriers to mental health recovery."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor Against Mental Illness Self-Stigma"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Goldberg, Joel"],"dc:creator":["Zhao, Wenfeng"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2019-03-05T14:46:26Z"],"dc:date.available":["2019-03-05T14:46:26Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2019-03-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["Self-stigma, the internalization of public stigma, is a significant hindrance to help-seeking and treatment adherence for mental illness. Stigma reduction strategies have thus far focused on mitigating the negative impact of self-stigma by bolstering self-esteem. However, self-esteem is resistant to change and direct attempts to boost self-esteem have been suggested to foster narcissism and unhealthy attachment to positive self-image. Alternatively, self-compassion has been demonstrated to offer similar benefits as self-esteem with fewer downsides. More importantly, self-compassion can be improved with short interventions. Study One is a mixed method study that examined how self-compassion, and the different facets of self-compassion, related to mental health stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions. Study One compared self-compassion and self-esteem as predictors of self-stigma related to having a mental illness (SSMI) and self-stigma of seeking help for mental illness (SSOSH). Regression analyses showed that self-compassion uniquely predicted both forms of self-stigma and explained more of the variances in both SSMI and SSOSH than self-esteem in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 185). Findings also suggest that the self-kindness aspect of self-compassion may be more protective against SSMI, whereas common humanity is particularly relevant for SSOSH and help-seeking. The qualitative component of Study One revealed both interpersonal and intrapersonal themes in participants perception and experience of SSOSH. Study Two explored the potential of a brief one-time intervention to improve self-stigma and help-seeking attitude and intentions in a separate sample of undergraduate students (N = 133). Study Two also found evidence that self-efficacy and perceived self-competence, two factors positively related to self-compassion, may deter professional help-seeking. 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