The relationship between self-compassion and mindfulness outcome measures in the context of an ethics-oriented mindfulness training

Details

Supervisors

Mikolajczak, Moïra ; Bayot, Marie

Faculty

Faculté de psychologie, logopédie, sexologie et des sciences de la famille

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences psychologiques

Abstract

In order to not further expand the apparent rift existing between ‘Buddhist’ and ‘non-Buddhist’ approaches to mindfulness (Peacock, 2014), the context of this present study is the creation of an ethics-oriented mindfulness training (EMT) based on what could be termed the ‘universal values’ of compassion, loving-kindness, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, in hope that it would (a) yield more positive results for individual participants and organisations and (b) potentially encourage similar approaches, which could have a positive impact on our society as a whole in the long run. One particular area of interest for us in these ‘universal values’ is self-compassion. It has been increasingly recognised by research in recent years to be a pivotal construct in the development of psychological well-being (Zessin, Dickhäuser, & Garbade, 2015). Additionally, some authors argue that mindfulness could be a sub-component of self-compassion (Neff & Davidson, 2016). But how exactly do they relate to each other? The first part of this study will cover the definition and theoretical roots of mindfulness, the thought process behind the creation of the EMT, and current understandings of self-compassion. The second part of this study will describe an experimental study we undertook to compare a standard mindfulness training (SMT) program to the EMT program. The focus here will be on self-report measures of mindfulness and self-compassion, and on their interaction in the context of each type of mindfulness training. We think there is much to discover about the mechanisms behind the effects of a mindfulness-based program, and on the particular relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion