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Psychological maltreatment and self-compassion - the mediating role of shame and perspective-taking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

G. Vizin*
Affiliation:
Semmelweis University, Department Of Clinical Psychology, Budapest, Hungary Eötvös Lorand University Institute of Psychology, Department Of Clinical Psychology And Addiction, Budapest, Hungary
H. Szőcs
Affiliation:
Eötvös Lorand University Institute of Psychology, Department Of Clinical Psychology And Addiction, Budapest, Hungary
Z. Illyés
Affiliation:
National Institute of Medical Rehabilitation, National Institute Of Medical Rehabilitation, Budapest, Hungary Centre of Cognitive and Schema Therapy, Centre Of Cognitive And Schema Therapy, Budapest, Hungary
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Psychological maltreatment such as emotional abuse or neglect is a serious risk factor for poorer mental and somatic health outcomes in life. A higher rate of psychological maltreatment experienced in childhood is a predictor of aversive emotional states such as shame, and can negatively influence factors of mentalization such as perspective-taking capacity in adulthood. However, emotional abuse or neglect are also negative predictors of self-compassion.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to test two mediating models. We hypothesized, that reduced perspective-taking capacity, as well as higher levels of shame due to psychological maltreatment can be causally linked to lower levels of self-compassion.

Methods

We collected data from 120 healthy subjects (mean age=29.46, SD = 7.55) from Hungary We used Experience of Shame Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Childhood Trauma Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale in our cross-sectional questionnaire study.

Results

Psychological maltreatment is a significant negative predictor of self-compassion (b=-0,712; p<0.05), and shame seems to play a mediating role in this relationship (effect size= 0.231; p<0.05). Psychological maltreatment was not a statistically significant predictor of perspective-taking.

Conclusions

Our results highlight that shame has a central role between childhood traumatization and psychological well-being. In the case of early emotional maltreatment we have to focus on shame for higher levels of self-compassion and effective healing in psychotherapy.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Type
Abstract
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 (http://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), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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