ParentSelf‐Compassionand Supportive Responses to Child Difficult Emotion: An Intergenerational Theoretical Model Rooted in Attachment

Abstract

Self-compassion is an adaptive way of self-relating that entails tending to one's emotional pain with understanding and care. In this article, we propose an intergenerational model explaining how self-compassion develops in the context of the parent-child relationship. Specifically, we posit that parents who have had supportive experiences with their own childhood caregivers develop a secure attachment and a high level of self-compassion. In turn, we propose that high self-compassion in parents promotes parents' capacity to support children when they experience difficult emotions (e.g., anger, sadness). These responses promote the child's secure attachment, high self-compassion development, and positive behavioral outcomes. A key area for future research is examining the potential link between parent self-compassion and responses to difficult emotions in the child. Given that self-compassion can be enhanced through intervention, support for this model will have broad implications for interrupting intergenerational cycles of dysfunction caused by insecure attachment.

Self-Compassion Mediates the Impact of Family Support on Clinical and Personal Recovery Among People with Mental Illness

“…It is noteworthy, however, that, similar to other family models of psychological outcomes (e.g., Chan & Lam, 2018), our model accounted for only moderate amounts of variances in the outcome variables. This finding may not be surprising, given past research showing that various family and life experiences, including adverse childhood events and parental socialization styles, may affect the development of self-compassion (Lathren et al, 2020). Moreover, the family may affect the recovery of mental illness through different pathways and mechanisms, such as greater stigma resistance and lower internalized stigma (Chan & Lam, 2018).…”

Self‐compassion reduces parental burnout: Mediation roles of parental psychological control and support

“…These parents are less likely to have parenting perfectionism and self‐blame (Moreira et al, 2015; Paucsik et al, 2021). They have more resilience when realizing their own mistakes and have more confidence in their parenting abilities (Lathren et al, 2020; Moreira et al, 2015). Self‐compassion also helped parents avoid getting overwhelmed by their own painful emotions and traumas and become more connected to their children (Moreira et al, 2015).…”

“…Compared to parents with a lower level of self‐compassion, parents with higher self‐compassion show full attention, mindful listening, and support to their children (Moreira et al, 2015; Nguyen et al, 2020). Compassionate parents tend to embrace both their children's positive and negative behaviors and look for opportunities to support children learning new knowledge and skills (Lathren et al, 2020).…”

The association between self‐compassion in the postnatal period and difficult experiences with COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes during pregnancy: An observational study for women at 1‐month postnatal in Japan

“…While self-compassion is greatly influenced by attachment experiences in childhood (Germer, 2009;Moreira et al, 2018), aging and emotional maturity based on various life experiences may also positively influence self-compassion in adulthood (Neff & Pommier, 2013). During emotional distress, the quality of interpersonal experiences, especially with attachment figures (i.e., a partner and mother), may enhance or suppress self-compassion afterwards (Latheren et al, 2020). For example, a husband's compassion toward his partner increases his sensitivity to his partner's distress and encourages more supportive behavior through emotional empathy (Collins et al, 2014).…”

“…For example, a husband's compassion toward his partner increases his sensitivity to his partner's distress and encourages more supportive behavior through emotional empathy (Collins et al, 2014). Additionally, pregnant women often recognize their mothers as an attachment figure, which may remind them of their own attachment experiences during childhood (Latheren et al, 2020). The perinatal period is a critical point of self-change through seeking help from attachment figures (Reisz et al, 2019) and accomplishing maternal tasks such as safe passage during pregnancy and childbirth (Rubin, 1984).…”