An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits
Journal of Research in Personality
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Year:
n.d.
Pages:
908-916
Sources ID:
22289
Visibility:
Private
Zotero Collections:
Contexts of Contemplation Project, Positive Pyschology, Contemplation by Applied Subject, Psychology and Contemplation, Science and Contemplation
Abstract:
(Show)
This study examined the relation of self-compassion to positive psychological health and the five factor model of personality. Self-compassion entails being kind toward oneself in instances of pain or failure; perceiving one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience; and holding painful thoughts and feelings in balanced awareness. Participants were 177 undergraduates (68% female, 32% male). Using a correlational design, the study found that self-compassion had a significant positive association with self-reported measures of happiness, optimism, positive affect, wisdom, personal initiative, curiosity and exploration, agreeableness, extroversion, and conscientiousness. It also had a significant negative association with negative affect and neuroticism. Self-compassion predicted significant variance in positive psychological health beyond that attributable to personality.