Browsing by Author "Tuominen, Salli"

Objective: Self-compassion, described as a kind and loving stance towards oneself, has become a widely discussed topic in popular psychology in the last decade. Articles written on self-compassion have claimed a wide variety of linked positive psychological outcomes. Self-compassion is measured with the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the validity of which has been questioned by recent research findings. Criticism imposed on the SCS calls for a re-examination of previous research findings of the relationship between self-compassion and wellbeing. In this study, I look into the structure of self-compassion in a university context. In addition, I examine the relationship of two separate concepts of self-compassion and self-criticism to study burnout. Method: 1381 students of Aalto University answered to measures of self-compassion and study burnout as a part of the AllWell? study wellbeing questionnaire in 2018. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis. In addition, the data was compared to four distinct models describing the relationship between self-compassion, self-criticism and study burnout. Results: In the explorative factor analysis, self-compassion loaded on two distinct factors, namely the positive dimension (self-compassion) and the negative dimension (self-criticism). Self-criticism was significantly related to higher levels of study burnout, whereas self-compassion was not. Results from the model fit analyses between the models did not support hypotheses of a mediating or a moderating effect of self-compassion on the relationship between self-criticism and study burnout. Discussion: These results support the notion that previous results of the relationship between self-compassion and wellbeing should be re-evaluated. Based on this study, the use of the Self-Compassion Scale is not advisable without further research into the validity of this measure. The validity of self-compassion as a scientific concept is still unclear. Further research should be directed at studying self-compassion with a wider scope in the context of psychological flexibility.