A new study just published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders has found that Self-compassion is a better predictor than mindfulness of symptom severity and quality of life in mixed anxiety and depression
‘Self-compassion predicts 18–44% of variance in anxiety, depression, worry, and quality of life’
In this community sample of people seeking self-help for 'anxious distress', self compassion had ten times more impact on the level of anxiety, depression, worry and quality of life than did mindfulness.
To put this study in context, the authors used the MAAS mindfulness scale and the self compassion scale in the comparison.
Some experts in mindfulness view the MAAS as only focussing on one aspect of mindfulness - 'open or receptive awareness of and attention to what is taking place in the present' - whereas if you look at questions in the self compassion scale it is hard not to imagine it would be associated with well being.
Having said that, this is still a cool piece of research adding to the data suggesting it is a smart idea to foster self-compassion.
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