Early shaming experiences and psychological distress: the role of experiential avoidance, self-compassion and fear of self-compassion

Abstract

The first chapter of this thesis consists of a systematic review of the literature exploring the role of self-compassion in promoting positive mental health. This review aimed to synthesise the research literature to ascertain if self-compassion was associated with increased levels of positive mental health relating to social, emotional and psychological well-being. In total, 16 studies were included and evaluated using a quantitative study quality assessment protocol to determine the quality of such research. Results offered preliminary support for the positive role that self-compassion plays in promoting increased levels of positive mental health. This offers broader clinical implications into the potential benefits of self-compassion in enhancing positive mental health within psychological interventions. Chapter two of this thesis aimed to explore the impact of early shaming experiences on psychological distress (i.e. depression and anxiety) through the mediating effect of experiential avoidance, as well as exploring if this mediation was moderated by levels of self-compassion. Additionally, there is growing evidence that fear of self-compassion leads to increased vulnerability to psychological distress (Gilbert, McEwan, Matos & Rivis, 2011). Therefore, it was explored if fear of self-compassion mediated the relationship between early shaming experiences and psychological distress. In total, 556 participants were recruited, this consisted of individuals from a student population and the general population. Findings showed that self-compassion moderated the mediating effects of experiential avoidance within the relationship between early shaming experiences and depressive symptoms. However, this was not applicable to anxiety symptoms. This indicated that self-compassion may weaken the effects of experiential avoidance on depressive symptoms, leading to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, fear of self-compassion was found to significantly mediate the relationship between early shaming experiences and psychological distress. Such findings offer important clinical implications for the positive effects of self-compassion in ameliorating psychological distress.

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