O que é Compaixão? Um estudo multicultural sobre as associações semânticas e experiências subjetivas de compaixão

Empirical research has documented the benefits of compassion for mental health, psychosocial and physiological wellbeing. Yet, definitions of compassion vary amongst theoretical approaches, researchers, clinicians and lay people. The meaning and nature of compassion can be misunderstood and become linked to fears, blocks and resistances to compassion. The current paper defines compassion from the perspective of compassion focused therapy (CFT) and distinguishes it from other commonly related concepts, using a qualitative methodological approach. Participants’ understanding of compassion was explored through their selection of the words they associated with compassion and self-compassion, and descriptions of recalled experiences of giving and receiving compassion, with cultural differences further examined. A sample of 584 adult participants was recruited from general community populations in Australia (n = 296), Portugal (n = 183) and Singapore (n = 105) and completed a self report questionnaire assessing the meaning and the subjective experiences of compassion. Empathy, Kindness and Understanding were the three words participants most frequently associated with ‘Compassion’. The most frequent three words selected by participants associated with ‘Self-compassion’ were Acceptance, Strength and Understanding. Various cultural differences among countries were identified and discussed. The findings also clarified participants’ experiences of compassion for others, receiving compassion from others and self-compassion, identified similarities and differences between countries, and revealed a significant proportion of people who were unable to recollect/ describe compassion experiences (across the three flows). The findings are discussed in light of a CFT framework and clinical implications for CFT practitioners are derived.Estudos empíricos têm documentado os benefícios da compaixão para a saúde mental, bem-estar psicossocial e fisiológico. No entanto, as definições de compaixão variam entre abordagens teóricas, investigadores, clínicos e leigos. O significado e a natureza da compaixão podem ser mal compreendidos e ligados a medos, bloqueios e resistências à compaixão. O presente artigo define a compaixão a partir da perspetiva da terapia focada na compaixão (TFC) e distingue-a de outros conceitos comumente associados, usando uma abordagem metodológica qualitativa. A compreensão dos participantes sobre o que é a compaixão foi explorada através da seleção das palavras que eles associavam com compaixão e auto-compaixão, e das suas descrições de experiências passadas de dar e receber compaixão, com diferenças culturais sendo também examinadas. Uma amostra de 584 participantes adultos foi recrutada da comunidade geral na Austrália (n = 296), Portugal (n = 183) e Singapura (n = 105), e completou um questionário de auto-resposta que avaliava o significado e as experiências subjetivas de compaixão. Empatia, Bondade e Compreensão foram as três palavras que os participantes mais frequentemente associaram a ‘Compaixão’. As três palavras mais frequentemente selecionadas pelos participantes associadas à ‘Auto-compaixão’ foram Aceitação, Força e Compreensão. Várias diferenças culturais entre os países foram identificadas e discutidas. As descobertas também esclareceram as experiências dos participantes de compaixão pelos outros, receber compaixão de outros e auto-compaixão, identificaram semelhanças e diferenças entre países e revelaram que uma proporção significativa de pessoas não conseguiu lembrar/descrever experiências de compaixão. Os resultados são discutidos à luz da abordagem de TFC e são derivadas implicações clínicas para psicoterapeutas de TFC

Informing mHealth and Web-Based Eating Disorder Interventions: Combining Lived Experience Perspectives With Design Thinking Approaches

Background: App-based interventions designed to prevent and treat eating disorders have considerable potential to overcome known barriers to treatment seeking. Existing apps have shown efficacy in terms of symptom reduction; however, uptake and retention issues are common. To ensure that apps meet the needs and preferences of those for whom they were designed, it is critical to understand the lived experience of potential users and involve them in the process of design, development, and delivery. However, few app-based interventions are pretested on and co-designed with end users before randomized controlled trials. Objective: To address the issue, this study used a highly novel design thinking approach to provide the context and a lived experience perspective of the end user, thus allowing for a deeper level of understanding. Methods: In total, 7 young women (mean age 25.83, SD 5.34, range 21-33 years) who self-identified as having a history of body image issues or eating disorders were recruited. Participants were interviewed about their lived experience of body image and eating disorders and reported their needs and preferences for app-based eating disorder interventions. Traditional (thematic analysis) and novel (empathy mapping; visually depicting and empathizing with the user’s personal experience) analyses were performed, providing a lived experience perspective of eating disorders and identifying the needs and preferences of this population in relation to app-based interventions for eating disorders. Key challenges and opportunities for app-based eating disorder interventions were also identified. Results: Findings highlighted the importance of understanding and identifying problematic eating disorder symptoms for the user, helpful practices for recovery that identify personal values and goals, the role of social support in facilitating hope, and aspects of usability to promote continued engagement and recovery. Conclusions: Practical guidance and recommendations are described for those developing app-based eating disorder interventions. These findings have the potential to inform practices to enhance participant uptake and retention in the context of app-based interventions for this population

Comparing compassion across cultures: similarities and differences among Australians and Singaporeans

Objectives: Compassion, a social mentality, is shaped by social context. Social roles may facilitate or hinder compassionate motivations directed to others, received from others, or expressed to oneself. As such, cultural differences may emerge in compassion competencies and fears of compassion. However, current research has been limited in understanding such cultural differences in compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and the relationships among them. The current study aimed to explore cultural differences between Australians (as an example of a loose/individualistic culture) and Singaporeans (as an example of a tight-collectivist culture) on compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and whether the relationships between compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and the relationships between compassion variables and psychological outcomes, differ. Method: In a cross-sectional design, a total of 435 participants took part in this study, were allocated to their self-identified culture (Australians and Singaporeans), and completed self-report measures of compassion competencies, fears of compassion, psychopathology and positive affect. Results: There were significant differences on compassion competencies and fears of compassion between Australians and Singaporeans. There were also significant differences between Australians and Singaporeans in the inter-correlations among the flows of compassion and fears of compassion, however the relationships between the compassion variables and psychological outcomes did not significantly differ across culture in general. Conclusions: Tight/collectivist cultural norms may hinder expression of compassion towards others, but may facilitate increased self-compassion as compared to loose cultural norms. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed

Measuring shame across five countries: dimensionality and measurement invariance of the external and internal shame scale

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