The Role of Self-Compassion in Chronic Illness Care

Alongside the potential benefits, how interventions cultivating self-compassion can be delivered in clinical practice is worthy of consideration. Previous applications have included group work (including MBCT, MBSR), one-to-one therapy (such as CFT) and self-directed practice via bibliotherapy or online materials. The different options available here suggest this kind of intervention is highly accessible, potentially inexpensive and could be used as a complimentary approach alongside other more traditional medical disease management treatments or as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention when required.

In order to best support the successful introduction and evaluation of such interventions, consideration of compassionate practice by staff within health-care settings is also needed. Cultivating a culture of compassion through compassionate leadership [62] is required. We know services with higher levels of caring practice have higher quality care, greater well-being for staff and in turn more compassionate care for patients [63] than those services that are struggling. It is hoped that taking a broad systemic compassionate approach (via training, ongoing supervision and ethos cultivation) would ensure that the language used, information communicated, and disease management approaches are planned and delivered in a way that fosters patients’ sense of self-efficacy and kindness towards themselves, with all the benefits outlined above.

Conclusion

Theory and research indicate that self-compassion fosters adaptive responses to perceived failures and setbacks, and is therefore associated with well-being, reduced stress and more frequent health behaviors. The emerging evidence base on the benefits of self-compassion for coping with the challenges of chronic health conditions is promising, and suggests that the benefits of self-compassion noted in non-medical populations may extend to chronic illness care. Interventions cultivating self-compassion may be especially beneficial for those with chronic health conditions through the mechanisms identified earlier; reducing stress (and thereby impacting on an individual’s relationship with their physical health); improving self-management skills with condition related behaviors and health-promoting behaviors; altering one’s relationship with illness-related shame and self-blame; and in boosting resilience. Systematic and rigorous evaluation of such interventions with people with chronic health conditions is now needed, evaluating impacts on well-being, health behaviors, and disease management and outcomes.

Corresponding author: Fuschia M. Sirois, Dept. of Psychology, University of Sheffield, 1 Vicar Lane, Sheffeld, S1 1HD, f.sirois@sheffield.ac.uk.

Fianacial disclosures: None.