Procedia

Social and
Behavioral
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 00 (2011) 000–000
Sciences
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 30 (2011) 978 – 982
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WCPCG-2011

Self-compassion as a moderator of the relationship between

rumination, self-reflection and stress
Gh. Samaieª, H.A. Farahanib
ªMA student in clinical psychology, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, P.Code: 1993891176, Iran*
b
Department of psychology, University of Tehran, Jalal Al-e-Ahmad Ave., Tehran, P.Code 14176-35175, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between rumination, self-reflection and stress and to investigate
the role of self-compassion as a moderator of this relationship.Methods: A sample of 275 undergraduate students completed a set
of reliable and valid questionnaires including measures of rumination and self-reflection (RRQ), stress (DASS) and self-
compassion (SCS).Results: Using a co-relational design, the study found that rumination had a significant positive association
with stress (p = 0.001, r = 0.31) and self-reflection had a significant negative association with stress (p = 0.001, r = -
0.47).Moderated multiple regression analysis indicated that self-compassion significantly moderated the link between rumination
and stress (∆R2 = 0.032, p = 0.001) and it also significantly moderated the relationship between self-reflection and stress (∆R2
=0.041, p = 0.001). The results indicated that sequentially 3.2 % and 4.1 % of the variance in stress could be attributable to
moderating role of self-compassion in this relationship.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate an association of rumination and
self-reflection with stress and suggest that the association between rumination and self-reflection with stress might be moderated
by self-compassion. Overall, the present findings suggest that high levels of self-compassion function to attenuate the link
between rumination and stress and also it functions to amplify the relationship between self-reflection and stress.

Keywords: self-compassion; rumination; self-reflection; stress

* Corresponding Author. Tel.:(+9821)88044040; Fax:(+9821)88035187.

E-mail :Gh_samaie@yahoo.com

1. Introduction

1.1. Self-compassion

Self-compassion, a new concept in the field of personality psychology [1,2], is based on ideas discussed in the
insight tradition of Buddhism [3]. Self-compassion involves being caring and compassionate towards oneself in the
face of hardship or perceived inadequacy [4,3]. According to Neff [1], self-compassion consists of three interacting
components: self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and mindfulness (the ability to face painful thoughts and
feelings, but without exaggeration, drama or self-pity). These components facilitate a recognition and acceptance of
reality as it is, and enhance the capacity to respond effectively in any given situation [1]. Several research studies
have found strong support for the notion that self-compassion is associated with psychological health. For instance,
higher levels of self-compassion have been associated with greater life satisfaction, emotional intelligence, social
connectedness, and mastery goals, as well as less self-criticism, depression, anxiety, rumination, thought
suppression, perfectionism, performance goals, and disordered eating behaviors [5, 1, 6, 7]. Raes suggests that one
way via which self-compassion has buffering effects on depression and anxiety is through its positive effects on

1877-0428 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology, Counselling and Guidance.
doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.190
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unproductive repetitive thinking [8]. Gilbert (2005) suggests that self-compassion enhances well-being because it
helps individuals to feel cared for, connected, and emotionally calm [2]. Using social mentality theory —which
draws on principles of evolutionary biology, neurobiology, and attachment theory— Gilbert (1989) proposes that
self-compassion deactivates the threat system (associated with feelings of insecurity, defensiveness and the limbic
system) and activates the self-soothing system (associated with feelings of secure attachment, safeness, and the
oxytocin-opiate system)[9]. Environmental factors are also likely to play a key role. Preliminary evidence among
adolescents suggests that self-compassion is related to maternal criticism and other family messages given to youths,
as well as to attachment schemas [10].

1.2. Stress

In the 1930s, [11] defined ―stress‖ as ―the nonspecific response of the body to any demand for change‖. Later,
definitions have focused on two major components of stress: (a) the ―cause‖ (i.e., environmental stressors or stimuli;
e.g., major live events or daily hassles) [12] and (b) the ―effect‖ [i.e., subjective reaction to stress, which has two
further components: stress appraisal (perceptional processing) and emotional response][13].

1.3. Self-rumination and self-reflection

Definitions of rumination have included passively focusing one‘s attention on a negative emotional state,
intrusive thinking about a distressing event, distress associated with thoughts about recent negative events [14].
Considering the contradictory aspects of self-focused attention, Trapnell and Campbell (1999) distinguished
between the rumination and reflection subtypes of private self-consciousness, based on the motivation and five-
factor model of personality. ‗‗Self-reflection‘‘ is a contrasting form of self-focus that is motivated by curiosity or
epistemic interest in the self and is associated with openness to experiences. Self-reflection and reflective pondering
are characterized as a form of self-focus aimed at understanding the self and overcoming problems and difficulties,
whereas self-rumination and brooding (referring to self-critical moody pondering) are characterized as neurotic and
chronic forms of self-focus, such as gloomy, anxious, or depressed thinking [15, 16].
Previous researches have indicated that self-rumination has a positive correlation with personal distress and
the unhappiness of memories; however, self-reflection has a positive correlation with perspective taking and
empathic concern [17,18]. There is evidence to suggest that rumination is related to neuroticism [19,20].Some
authors have argued that a ruminative response style might be considered a cognitive manifestation of neuroticism
[21]. Neff [1,22] provided first evidence that greater self-compassion is related to less rumination. In fact, Leary et
al. (2007) suggested that self compassionate people may experience less negative (i.e. depressed and anxious)
affect following a negative event because they ruminate less or not about possible negative implications of such an
event [23]. The combined observations of rumination‘s relation with both self compassion and stress support the
idea that rumination might moderate the relation between self-compassion and stress.
The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between rumination, self-reflection and stress and
also to investigate the hypothesis that self-compassion mediates the association between rumination, self-reflection
and stress.

2. Method

2.1. Participants

The sample comprised 275 undergraduates of different universities of Tehran consisting Allame Tatabaie
University, Tehran University, Shahid Beheshti University and Azad University. The procedure typically lasted
about 20 min.
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and Behavioral Behavioral
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2.2. Measures

Self-compassion scale (SCS): The SCS [1] consists of 26 items assessing six different aspects of self-
compassion: self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification.
Adequate validity and reliability is reported [1].Persian translation of the questionnaire was used.

Rumination and reflection scale (RRQ): The participants completed the RRQ [15]. The questionnaire was used to
assess the participants‘ tendency to ruminate about and reflect on themselves. The RRQ contains self-rumination
and self-reflection subscales. Each subscale consists of 12 items. All the items have to be rated on a 5-point scale,
whose anchors range from ‗‗strongly disagree‘‘ (1) to ‗‗strongly agree‘‘ (5). Previous studies have shown good test-
retest reliability and convergent validity of the RRQ [15].In this study, the Persian-translated version of the
questionnaire was used.

Depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21) questionnaire: The DASS-21 consists of 7-item self-report in each
three scales (DASS -Depression scale, DASS-Anxiety scale and DASS-Stress scale). Items on the DASS are rated
on 4-point Likert - type, ranging from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much, or most of the
time). In present

Table 1. interco-relations among the study variables (N=275)

measure 1 2 3 4
1. self-compassion –
2. rumination –.28** –
3. self-reflection .24** –.27** –
4. stress –.34** .31** –.47** –

** P <0.001
Table 2. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis for rumination, self-compassion, and their interaction in relating to stress

Model R R² Adjusted R² ∆R² ∆F P

1 .61 .38 .37 .38 37.6 .001
2 .64 .41 .41 .032 4.83 .001
Model 1: Predictors: self-compassion, rumination
Model 2: Predictors: self-compassion, rumination, interaction term (moderating effect of self-compassion)

study the DASS-Stress scale was used to measure the negative emotional states of self-perceived stress. The DASS-
Stress scale is sensitive to levels of chronic non-specific arousal. It assesses difficulty to relax, nervous arousal, and
being easily upset/ agitated, irritable/over reactive, and impatient. This instrument had high internal consistency for
all subscales, with Cronbach‘s alpha ranging from 0.73 to 0.81[24].

3. Results

The correlations among the study variables are presented in Table 1. As it was expected the inter-correlations
showed that rumination had a significant positive association with stress (p = 0.001, r = 0.31) and self-reflection was
negatively associated with stress(p = 0.001, r = - 0.47). In addition, self-compassion was negatively related to
rumination (p = 0.001, r = - 0.28) and it has moderately positive correlation with self-reflection (p = 0.001, r =
0.24).
The statistically significant results of multiple regression analyses are presented in Table 2 and 3. A hierarchical
regression analysis was conducted to test the hypothesis that self-compassion could moderate the association
 Gh. SamaieGh.
andSamaie
H.A. Farahani / Procedia
/ Procedia – Social -and
Social and Behavioral
Behavioral SciencesSciences 30 000–000
00 (2011) (2011) 978 – 982 981

between rumination and self-reflection with stress. As results revealed, after entering interaction term (moderating
effect of self- compassion ) in model 2, in the link between rumination and stress .032 increase in R² (see table 2)
and furthermore in the relationship between self-reflection and stress .041 increase in R² was indicated (see table 3).
So there was significant interaction between rumination and self-reflection with stress and the results showed that
sequentially 3.2 % and 4.1 % of the variance in stress could be attributable to moderating role of self-compassion in
this relationship.

4. Discussion

Consistent with the literature, our findings showed that greater levels of rumination were associated with
significantly higher stress levels and greater levels of self-reflection

Table 3. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis for self-reflection, self-compassion, and their interaction in relating to stress

Model R R² Adjusted R² ∆R² ∆F P

1 .49 .24 .23 .24 19.98 .001
2 .81 .65 .63 .041 8.21 .001
Model 1: Predictors: self-compassion, self-reflection
Model 2: Predictors: self-compassion, self-reflection, interaction term (moderating effect of self-compassion)

demonstrated significantly lower levels of stress and suggest that the association between rumination and self-
reflection with stress might be moderated by self-compassion. . Overall, the present findings suggest that high levels
of self-compassion function to attenuate the link between rumination and stress and also it function to amplify the
relationship between self-reflection and stress.

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