A study from researchers at The University of Groningen in the Netherlands, published in the journal Mindfulness, examines the role that self-compassion and self-coldness play in depressive symptoms. In their study, the researchers find that self-judgment and isolation are strong predictors of depressive symptoms and recommend interventions aimed at improving self-compassion through mindfulness.
“Self-coldness measures harsh judgment towards the self, feelings of isolation, and over identification with negative aspects of oneself or personal experience,” lead author Angélica López explains. “These concepts resemble self-criticism, loneliness, and rumination, three well-known and studied psychological processes that have proved to be detrimental for individuals’ wellbeing.”
Responding to one’s suffering with self-compassion is characterized by treating one’s self with tenderness and understanding, seeing one’s failures as a part of the human condition, and maintaining mindfulness in painful experiences. The alternative is responding with self-coldness.
In a number of previous studies, self-compassion interventions have been shown to significantly reduce depressive symptoms with effects lasting six months to one year. Past studies have also associated self-coldness with reduced improvements in psychological health. In a 2011 review of the self-compassion literature the researchers found that:
“Patients who are self-critical tend to make fewer improvements in short-term antidepressant medication (imipramine), placebo, or psychotherapy (interpersonal or cognitive– behavioral) treatment.”
The purpose of the current study was to explore the predictive ability of self-compassion on depressive symptoms and the moderating role that self-compassion has on the relationship between self-coldness and depressive symptoms.
The authors demonstrate self-coldness to be a strong predictor of depressive symptoms, with feelings of isolation being the strongest predictor followed by over-identification with negative feelings and experiences. The authors highlight previous research demonstrating the role self-compassion plays as a buffer between self-coldness and depressive symptoms.
“As proposed in previous studies, we found a significant interaction between self-compassion and self-coldness. Our results showed that cross-sectionally, self-coldness predicted depressive symptoms in individuals with either low or high self-compassion, with a somewhat stronger relationship among those low in self-compassion. In our longitudinal data, self-coldness predicted depressive symptoms only for those individuals low in self-compassion.”
While some have critiqued the positive psychology movement and its emphasis on self-compassion, others have framed self-compassion as a form of resistance to the neoliberal imperative for self-perfection. The importance that self-compassion interventions place on utilizing perspective taking and mindfulness through experiences of suffering contests the idea that one should aspire to a constant state of happiness.
With an increasing body of support, self-compassion and mindfulness interventions could play a key role as first-line interventions for the treatment of people diagnosed with depressive disorders. This study provides support to the growing body of literature calling for integrative approaches to mental health care.
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López, A., Sanderman, R., & Schroevers, M. J. (2018). A Close Examination of the Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Depressive Symptoms. Mindfulness, 1-9. (Link)
