Investigation of a developmental account of self-compassion: the result of parental behaviour during childhood and the potential roles of attachment and mindfulness
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: ObjectivesThe aim of the current study was to investigate a developmental account of selfcompassion.This was based on theoretical models that suggest that the capacity for self-compassion in adulthood may be linked to the behaviour of parents during childhood (Gilbert 1989(Gilbert , 1995(Gilbert , 2005(Gilbert , 2009;; Neff, 2009ab, Neff & McGehee, 2010).This was investigated for early experiences of emotional warmth and rejection from parents.The stability of this across age groups was investigated.Attachment and mindfulness were also explored as potential mediators of this relationship. DesignThe current study had a correlational design. MethodsAll variables were assessed using self report measures.These included measures of self-compassion, recall of parental behaviour during childhood, attachment and mindfulness.The current study recruited a non-clinical sample of 531 students attending the University of East Anglia. AnalysesThe hypotheses regarding the potential relationships between self-compassion and the recall of parental behaviour were explored using correlational analyses.These were followed-up with mediational analyses to investigate attachment style and mindfulness within these associations. Findings and conclusionsThe findings indicated that self-compassion was associated with recall of parental behaviour during childhood.Inverse associations were found between selfcompassion and experiences of rejection from parents.Positive associations were found between self-compassion and emotional warmth.This pattern of results was found for both maternal and paternal behaviour.The findings indicted that both attachment and mindfulness were mediators of this relationship (although mindfulness was only found to be associated with rejection).It is argued that these findings are supportive of theoretical accounts underlying current clinical interventions aimed at increasing self-compassion and that they offer an initial indication as to what aspects of early relationships with care-givers may be implicated in the development of selfcompassion.
Author: Corinna Hackmann
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W262753296