Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontoria, Canada.
St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Br J Clin Psychol. 2021 Mar;60(1):99-115. doi: 10.1111/bjc.12275. Epub 2020 Dec 26.
Although self-compassion facilitates eating disorder symptom remission, individuals with eating disorders are fearful of developing it and higher fears of self-compassion are associated with poorer treatment outcomes. In-depth exploration of individuals' pros and cons of behaviour change is generally helpful at resolving ambivalence; however, no research has examined the pros and cons individuals with eating disorders perceive to be associated with developing self-compassion, limiting our understanding of their personal experiences when confronted with self-compassion. Given the research suggesting higher resistance to self-compassion development in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), the present study used qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of their perceived pros and cons to self-compassion.
Thirty-seven women with typical (64%) and atypical (36%) AN signed up for a study on self-help strategies for daily distress. Upon learning that the intervention would entail cultivating self-compassion, they identified their perceived pros and cons of developing self-compassion by typing them out.
Thematic analysis was used to extract themes. Three superordinate cons and four superordinate pros of self-compassion emerged. Perceived cons were as follows: self-compassion leading to personal shortcomings; apprehension and doubt about the efficacy of self-compassion; and emotional challenges associated with developing self-compassion. Perceived pros were as follows: improved health; personal development (e.g., growth, coping); improved outlook; and enhanced social relationships.
These findings reveal the various advantages and disadvantages that women with AN perceive to be associated with developing self-compassion. Results may help clinicians work more sensitively and effectively when trying to cultivate self-compassion in patients who have AN.
This research suggests that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) perceive various disadvantages to cultivating self-compassion, but also certain advantages. By familiarizing themselves with the pros and cons to self-compassion identified by individuals with AN, clinicians may be able to more effectively listen to and communicate with their patients about ambivalence about self-compassion development. Clinicians may want to listen for and explore concerns in their AN patients that self-compassion will lead to personal shortcomings, fail to be beneficial, and be emotionally challenging. Clinicians may want to listen for and help patients elaborate upon their beliefs about how self-compassion might benefit their outlook, health, personal development, and relationships.
尽管自我同情有助于缓解饮食失调症状，但患有饮食失调症的人害怕发展出自我同情，而更高的自我同情恐惧与更差的治疗结果相关。深入探讨个体行为改变的利弊通常有助于解决矛盾心理；然而，目前还没有研究调查患有饮食失调症的个体认为与发展自我同情相关的利弊，这限制了我们对他们在面对自我同情时的个人经历的理解。鉴于研究表明厌食症（AN）患者对自我同情发展的抵抗力更高，本研究采用定性方法深入了解他们对自我同情的感知利弊。
37 名患有典型（64%）和非典型（36%）AN 的女性报名参加了一项关于日常困扰自助策略的研究。在得知干预措施将涉及培养自我同情后，她们通过打字的方式确定了自己发展自我同情的感知利弊。
采用主题分析法提取主题。出现了三个超上级反对意见和四个超上级赞成意见。感知到的反对意见如下：自我同情会导致个人缺点；对自我同情的功效感到担忧和怀疑；以及与发展自我同情相关的情绪挑战。感知到的赞成意见如下：改善健康；个人发展（例如，成长，应对）；改善前景；增强社会关系。
这些发现揭示了患有 AN 的女性认为与发展自我同情相关的各种优缺点。结果可能有助于临床医生在试图培养患有 AN 的患者的自我同情时更加敏感和有效地工作。
这项研究表明，患有厌食症（AN）的患者认为培养自我同情存在各种缺点，但也有某些优点。通过熟悉 AN 患者确定的自我同情的优缺点，临床医生可能能够更有效地倾听并与他们的患者交流对自我同情发展的矛盾心理。临床医生可能希望倾听并探讨他们的 AN 患者的担忧，即自我同情会导致个人缺点，无法受益，并具有情感挑战性。临床医生可能希望倾听并帮助患者详细说明他们对自我同情如何有益于他们的前景、健康、个人发展和关系的信念。
