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Changes in compassion and fears of compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings of a multinational study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

M. Matos  and
C. Compassion & Covid-19
M. Matos*
Affiliation:
Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
C. Compassion & Covid-19
Affiliation:
Multinational, Multinational, Multinational
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Cross-sectional data has shown that compassion for self and from others may be a protective factor for greater psychosocial wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic whilst fears of compassion act as a risk factor for experiencing mental health difficulties.

Objectives

The current study sought out to explore the natural fluctuation of compassion (for self, for others and from others) and of fears of compassion (for self, for others and from others) across time during the COVID-19 pandemic in a multinational community sample.

Methods

Data from 4057 participants from 21 countries was collected at 3 time points during the pandemic (baseline, 3 months and 6 months). Other than demographic variables, participants completed the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales and the Fears of Compassion Scales. Multilevel latent growth modelling was used to investigate the main aims.

Results

There was a significant increase in compassion for self and from others, whilst compassion for others remained unchanged throughout the 3 time points [Chi square 349.30(df=50) p< .001; RMSEA .035; CFI .93; TLI .91; SRMR (within) .043; SRMR (between) .70]. Fears of self-compassion and compassion for others significantly reduced throughout the pandemic whilst fears of compassion from others remained stable [Chi square 406.57(df=50) p< .001; RMSEA .038; CFI .96; TLI .94; SRMR (within) .042; SRMR (between) .35].

Conclusions

The findings from this study seem to suggest that in a period of shared suffering people from multiple countries and nationalities tend to become more compassionate and less afraid of and resistant to compassion for and from others.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S121
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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