The relation of self-compassion to functioning among adults with chronic pain.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that self-compassion is associated with improved functioning and health outcomes among multiple chronic illnesses. However, the role of self-compassion in chronic pain-related functioning is understudied. The present study sought to understand the association between self-compassion and important measures of functioning within a sample of patients with chronic pain. METHODS: Treatment-seeking individuals (N = 343 with chronic pain) that were mostly White (97.9%) and female (71%) completed a battery of assessments that included the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), as well as measures of pain-related fear, depression, disability, pain acceptance, success in valued activity and use of pain coping strategies. RESULTS: Cross-sectional multiple regression analyses that controlled for age, sex, pain intensity and pain duration, revealed that self-compassion accounted for a significant and unique amount of variance in all measures of functioning (r2 range 0.07-0.32, all p < 0.001). Beta weights indicated that higher self-compassion was associated with lower pain-related fear, depression and disability, as well as greater pain acceptance, success in valued activities and utilization of pain coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that self-compassion may be a relevant adaptive process in those with chronic pain. Targeted interventions to improve self-compassion in those with chronic pain may be useful. SIGNIFICANCE: Self-compassion is associated with better functioning across multiple general and pain-specific outcomes, with the strongest associations among measures related to psychological functioning and valued living. These findings indicate that self-compassion may be an adaptive process that could minimize the negative impact of chronic pain on important areas of life.