Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder
Previous studies have linked self-compassion to mental health, specifically anxiety, in non-clinical adolescents, suggesting that self-compassion can be a protective factor against anxiety. This study compared the overall level of self-compassion and (un)compassionate self-responding in adolescents...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/7/1181 |
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| author | Edibe Tali Eva S. Potharst Esther I. de Bruin Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens |
| author_facet | Edibe Tali Eva S. Potharst Esther I. de Bruin Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens |
| author_sort | Edibe Tali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous studies have linked self-compassion to mental health, specifically anxiety, in non-clinical adolescents, suggesting that self-compassion can be a protective factor against anxiety. This study compared the overall level of self-compassion and (un)compassionate self-responding in adolescents with and without an anxiety disorder and assessed the association between self-compassion and anxiety. This cross-sectional study included adolescents (12–19 years) with an anxiety disorder (N = 23) and a reference group (N = 28). Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results showed that overall self-compassion and uncompassionate self-responding were significantly lower and higher in the clinical than the reference group, respectively, while compassionate self-responding did not differ between groups. In the clinical group, only uncompassionate self-responding was significantly associated with higher anxiety. In the reference group, uncompassionate self-responding showed a significant positive association with anxiety, and compassionate self-responding showed a significant negative association with anxiety. Although the results suggest that low uncompassionate self-responding may buffer against anxiety, the role of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding remains unclear. An alternative explanation is that the uncompassionate self-responding items measure the presence of psychopathology in adolescents with an anxiety disorder. More research on the construct validity of the SCS uncompassionate self-responding scale is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:11:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-829c754a105d48c8b0a2422a802d03b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:11:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-829c754a105d48c8b0a2422a802d03b82023-11-18T18:49:22ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-07-01107118110.3390/children10071181Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety DisorderEdibe Tali0Eva S. Potharst1Esther I. de Bruin2Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens3Levvel, Rijksstraatweg 145, 1115 AP Duivendrecht, The NetherlandsUvA Minds, Academic Outpatient (Child and Adolescent) Treatment Centre, University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW Amsterdam, The NetherlandsUvA Minds, Academic Outpatient (Child and Adolescent) Treatment Centre, University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW Amsterdam, The NetherlandsResearch Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPrevious studies have linked self-compassion to mental health, specifically anxiety, in non-clinical adolescents, suggesting that self-compassion can be a protective factor against anxiety. This study compared the overall level of self-compassion and (un)compassionate self-responding in adolescents with and without an anxiety disorder and assessed the association between self-compassion and anxiety. This cross-sectional study included adolescents (12–19 years) with an anxiety disorder (N = 23) and a reference group (N = 28). Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results showed that overall self-compassion and uncompassionate self-responding were significantly lower and higher in the clinical than the reference group, respectively, while compassionate self-responding did not differ between groups. In the clinical group, only uncompassionate self-responding was significantly associated with higher anxiety. In the reference group, uncompassionate self-responding showed a significant positive association with anxiety, and compassionate self-responding showed a significant negative association with anxiety. Although the results suggest that low uncompassionate self-responding may buffer against anxiety, the role of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding remains unclear. An alternative explanation is that the uncompassionate self-responding items measure the presence of psychopathology in adolescents with an anxiety disorder. More research on the construct validity of the SCS uncompassionate self-responding scale is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/7/1181self-compassionanxietyanxiety disorderadolescentsclinical |
| spellingShingle | Edibe Tali Eva S. Potharst Esther I. de Bruin Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder Children self-compassion anxiety anxiety disorder adolescents clinical |
| title | Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder |
| title_full | Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder |
| title_fullStr | Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder |
| title_short | Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder |
| title_sort | self compassion and anxiety in adolescents with and without anxiety disorder |
| topic | self-compassion anxiety anxiety disorder adolescents clinical |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/7/1181 |
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