2020 Vol. 13 Issue 71
Yanchenko A.A., Nartova-Bochaver S.K. Self-compassion as an adaptive feature of the person
Full text in Russian: Янченко А.А., Нартова-Бочавер С.К. Сострадание к себе как адаптивное свойство личности
National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
About author
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In this paper we discuss self-compassion in terms of its role in the personality adaptation. The latter is defined as the maintenance of psychological well-being and functionality in different life events. Additionally, we aimed at adaptation of the Fears of compassion scale. The scale estimates level of compassion and it has not been adapted for Russian culture. The first stage of the study included primary psychometric development and validation of the main research tool. At the second stage two hypotheses were tested: self-compassion is 1) positively related to psychological well-being and authenticity; 2) negatively related to symptomatic (non-clinical) depression. 289 respondents (232 females, 57 males) participated in the study. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Authenticity Scale, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Psychological Well-Being Scale were used. Validity was tested by means of the Self-compassion scale.
The modified version of the questionnaire, suitable for Russian culture was developed. It demonstrated high validity and reliability, yet its factor structure was not confirmed. It was also shown that self-compassion was positively associated with psychological well-being and authenticity, whereas fear of self-compassion was related to depressive symptoms. Thus, self-compassion is an adaptive personality feature, which improves a person's interaction with oneself and the world. It also allows for maintenance of the integrity of the Self and the quality of life in different life situations.
Keywords: self-compassion, adaptation, psychological well-being, authenticity, depression
Funding
The participation of S.K. Nartova-Bochaver (data collection, interpretation, the adaptation of the Authenticity Scale) was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project 20-18-00262 “The authenticity of the person: premises, phenomena, applications”.
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Received 31 May 2020. Date of publication: 30 June 2020.
About author
Yanchenko Alexandra A. Student, National Research University Higher School of Economics, per. Armyanskii, 4/2, 101000 Moscow, Russia.
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Nartova-Bochaver Sofya K. Ph.D., Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics, per. Armyanskii, 4/2, 101000 Moscow, Russia.
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Yanchenko A.A., Nartova-Bochaver S.K. Self-compassion as an adaptive feature of the person. Psikhologicheskie Issledovaniya, 2020, Vol. 13, No. 71, p. 7. http://psystudy.ru (in Russian, abstr. in English).
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