The added value of self-compassion in the context of psychological flexibility and somatic symptoms

Abstract

In the treatment of chronic pain, psychological flexibility has shown to be a relevant concept. Mindfulness is an essential component in psychological flexibility, which states that being aware of the pain will change the suffering. Self-compassion adds the ability of being kind towards oneself during negative experiences, instead of solely contemplating them, and helps to provide comfort in the suffering. This study examined whether the non-mindfulness components of self-compassion offer added value to the association between psychological flexibility and somatic symptoms. The interaction between these variables was also investigated, with the expectation that particularly the combination of low psychological flexibility and low self-compassion would be related to more somatic symptoms. 240 participants of the general population filled out questionnaires on somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), psychological flexibility (FIT-60) and self-compassion (SCS). Regression analysis showed no significant additive association for self-compassion and psychological flexibility with somatic symptoms. There was no interaction effect between these variables. Self-compassion did offer an additive value to two separate components of psychological flexibility. These results only marginally support the importance of self-compassion over and above psychological flexibility. Future research should focus on the components of psychological flexibility where self-compassion did offer an additive value and examine in what way self-compassion should be taken into account in clinical practice.