Self-Compassion and Breast Cancer in 23 Cancer Respondents: Is the Way You Relate to Yourself a Factor in Disease Onset and Progress?

Abstract

Breast Cancer has been extensively studied. However, there is limited knowledge about how psychological factors such as levels of self-compassion may be related to disease onset. This study examined whether higher levels of selfcompassion may be associated with a delayed onset of cancer and its progression and lower hyper-arousal scores in Australian women with breast cancer, using retrospective recollections as part of the study design. Participants from Australian cancer support groups were invited to complete an online survey including demographic and cancer history information, a hyper-arousal scale and a self-compassion scale (self-report scales). After data screening 23 of the 31 responding participants were included in the study. Correlation and regression analyses were used to analyse the relationships. Higher levels of selfcompassion were related to later onset of breast cancer and to lower hyperarousal scores. The findings suggest that self-compassion may be a protective factor in relation to hyper-arousal and early onset and progression of disease. The implication, subject to more extended research, is that counsellors, therapists and physicians may reduce the personal and health costs of those with breast cancer by helping them become more aware of and better users of effective self-compassion strategies.

Pain in relation to emotion regulatory resources and self-compassion: a non-randomized correlational study involving recollected early childhood experiences and insecure attachment

“…Applications to other illnesses where pain is involved also need to be examined as similar results may be found and provide a further base to help in relation to the pain experienced. For example, studies of other painful illnesses such as breast cancer (Kearney & Hicks, 2017) have shown similar results, but further studies would help strengthen the case for attention in treatment to psychosocial variables such as those we have examined in the current study (early life experiences of warmth and safety or its lack, current attachmentrelationship styles, and self-regulation/self-compassion strategies).…”

“…The findings suggested that people who engaged in more compassion-focused meditation scored lower on physiological responses (such as cortisol -arousal levels) and psychological measures (such as of distress and anxiety), suggesting that stress-induced immune and behavioural responses (arousal) may be moderated by compas-sion-focused meditation (Pace et al, 2009). A study on age of onset of breast cancer and self-compassion found that greater self-compassion was related to lower levels of hyper-arousal and a later onset of disease (Kearney & Hicks, 2017). Therefore, it appears from the available research that strategies high in self-compassion are likely to produce positive physical and psychological health outcomes (Kearney & Hicks, 2017;Neff, 2003a;Pace et al, 2009).…”

“…A study on age of onset of breast cancer and self-compassion found that greater self-compassion was related to lower levels of hyper-arousal and a later onset of disease (Kearney & Hicks, 2017). Therefore, it appears from the available research that strategies high in self-compassion are likely to produce positive physical and psychological health outcomes (Kearney & Hicks, 2017;Neff, 2003a;Pace et al, 2009). Risk factors in the development of autoimmunity have been explored in the literature; however, factors that may protect an individual from elevated (threat-related) arousal and exacerbated experiences of pain have not previously been explored in detail and certainly not in relation to scleroderma.…”

“…Other research findings on the relationship of early life experiences and their later life effects in the handling of pain are also supported by our findings in relation to scleroderma sufferers. For example, Thakkar and McCanne (2000) in a comparative study of women sexually abused and those not abused; Kearney and Hicks (2017) on how the experience of pain in breast cancer can be related to adverse early life experiences and an inadequate emotion regulation strategy (low self-compassion); and Keefe, Porter, and Labban (2006) on how couples manage pain (or do not) all show consistency in terms of early life experiences.…”

Effect of Self-Compassion Intervention Based on a Religious Perspective on the Anxiety and Quality of Life of Infertile Women: A quasi-experimental study

“…Although the role of self-compassion in improving the quality of life of other diseases such as celiac disease [31], cancer [32], HIV [33], persistent musculoskeletal pain [34] and chronic disease management [35] has been acknowledged, but as confirmed in cancer patients [18], religious implications can be added to increase the effectiveness of self-compassion intervention, especially in a country, such as Iran, with a religious cultural background.…”