The relationship between trait self-compassion and heart rate during stress

Abstract

Extreme and prolonged exposure to stress can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health (Farrell et al., 2017). People who report higher levels of stress are more likely to report functional and social impairments (Palmer & Cooper, 2013). Faster recovery from stress is associated with fewer negative health outcomes and better coping with such outcomes if they occur (Bowers & Yehuda, 2015). Trait self-compassion is a concept closely related to the Buddhist concept of mindfulness (Neff, 2015). It consists of three main components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness (Neff, 2003). Higher levels of self-compassion have been associated with greater empathy, more patience, greater acceptance (of self and others), and better coping with stress (Patsiopoulos & Buchanan, 2011). The purpose of this research was to determine whether levels of trait self-compassion predicted stress reactivity and recovery, over and above other factors (i.e., demographics and depressive symptoms). A total of 110 Participants recruited from the University of Regina were asked to complete a modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to determine their reactivity and recovery from stress. After completion of the TSST, participants were asked to complete several questionnaires. We predicted that self-reported levels of trait self-compassion would predict stress responses (reactivity and recovery after the TSST), beyond variance explained by other measures. A correlation analysis indicated that our modified TSST manipulation was successful. A hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that self-compassion levels had no effect on stress reactivity and recovery. It is possible that trait self-compassion does not have the same protective abilities against stress as learned self-compassion. Trait self-compassion may be unrelated to the physiological correlates (i.e., heart rate) of stress.