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Self-compassionate reactions to health threats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Terry, ML; Leary, MR; Mehta, S; Henderson, K
Published in: Personality & social psychology bulletin
July 2013

Four studies investigated the relationship between self-compassion, health behaviors, and reactions to illness. Participants completed measures of self-compassion, health-related thoughts and feelings, reactions to actual and hypothetical illnesses, and self-regulation. Study 1 revealed that self-compassion was related to health-related cognitions and affect for healthy and unhealthy participants. In Study 2, self-compassion predicted participants' reactions to actual illnesses beyond the influence of illness severity and other predictors of health behaviors. Self-compassionate people also indicated they would seek medical attention sooner when experiencing symptoms than people lower in self-compassion. Study 3 demonstrated that self-compassion is related to health-promoting behaviors even after accounting for self-regulatory capabilities and illness cognitions. Study 4 revealed that the relationship between self-compassion and health reactions is partially explained by a proactive approach to health, benevolent self-talk, and a motivation toward self-kindness. Overall, these studies demonstrate that self-compassion has important implications for health-promoting behaviors and reactions to illness.

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Published In

Personality & social psychology bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1552-7433

ISSN

0146-1672

Publication Date

July 2013

Volume

39

Issue

7

Start / End Page

911 / 926

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinking
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Control, Informal
  • Self-Assessment
  • Self Concept
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior
 

Citation

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Terry, M. L., Leary, M. R., Mehta, S., & Henderson, K. (2013). Self-compassionate reactions to health threats. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(7), 911–926. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213488213
Terry, Meredith L., Mark R. Leary, Sneha Mehta, and Kelly Henderson. “Self-compassionate reactions to health threats.Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin 39, no. 7 (July 2013): 911–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213488213.
Terry ML, Leary MR, Mehta S, Henderson K. Self-compassionate reactions to health threats. Personality & social psychology bulletin. 2013 Jul;39(7):911–26.
Terry, Meredith L., et al. “Self-compassionate reactions to health threats.Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 39, no. 7, July 2013, pp. 911–26. Epmc, doi:10.1177/0146167213488213.
Terry ML, Leary MR, Mehta S, Henderson K. Self-compassionate reactions to health threats. Personality & social psychology bulletin. 2013 Jul;39(7):911–926.
Journal cover image

Published In

Personality & social psychology bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1552-7433

ISSN

0146-1672

Publication Date

July 2013

Volume

39

Issue

7

Start / End Page

911 / 926

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinking
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Control, Informal
  • Self-Assessment
  • Self Concept
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior