Study of 1,200 Canadians Links Self-Compassion to Lower Anxiety and Depression
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 16
Study of 1,200 Canadians Links Self-Compassion to Lower Anxiety and Depression
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 16
Summary
More than 1,200 Canadians surveyed by McGill researcher Bassam Khoury showed that people with low self-compassion reported more anxiety, depression and poorer well-being, even when they were highly compassionate toward others or animals.
Six respondent groups revealed the strongest mental-health profile in people high in self-compassion as well as compassion for others and animals; those lacking self-compassion were also more vulnerable to burnout and compassion fatigue.
About 200 participants repeated the questionnaires months later, helping researchers test whether compassion patterns held over time across measures including stress, emotional regulation and overall well-being.
Khoury said self-compassion includes nonjudgment, self-care, self-respect and accepting help, while outside experts said the findings fit broader research linking self-compassion to psychological health.
The study, published last month in Personality and Individual Differences, was limited by a heavily female, mostly English-speaking Canadian sample, and Khoury said he wants to test the results in larger international groups.