Self-compassion and subclinical cardiovascular disease among midlife women
| Autor: | Rebecca C. Thurston, Megan M. Fritz, Yuefang Chang, Emma Barinas Mitchell, Pauline M. Maki |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Health Psychol |
| ISSN: | 1930-7810 0278-6133 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/hea0001137 |
| Popis: | OBJECTIVE: Self-compassion is a positive psychological construct characterized by extending compassion towards oneself, often during periods of suffering. Whereas self-compassion has been associated with psychological outcomes, research linking self-compassion to physical health is limited. We tested the hypothesis that greater self-compassion would be associated with less subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) as assessed by carotid intima media thickness (IMT). We adjusted for demographics, CVD risk factors and additionally depressive symptoms in these associations. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-five women (mean age=59 years) without CVD were recruited. Women completed questionnaires (Neff Self-Compassion Scale, Center for Epidemiology Studies of Depression Scale); physical measures [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP)]; phlebotomy (lipids, insulin resistance); and ultrasound assessments of the carotid artery (mean, maximal IMT). Cross-sectional associations between self-compassion and IMT were assessed in linear regression models covarying for age, race/ethnicity, education, and CVD risk factors (BMI, BP, insulin resistance, lipids, medications), and additionally depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Higher self-compassion was associated with lower mean IMT [B(SE)=−.03 (.01), p=.02], adjusting for demographic factors and CVD risk factors. Associations persisted adjusting for depressive symptoms. When considering self-compassion subscale bifactors, the positive self-compassion bifactor (self-compassion), but not negative self-compassion bifactor (self-coldness), was related to lower IMT. CONCLUSIONS: Self-compassion is associated with lower subclinical CVD. Associations were not explained by standard CVD risk factors nor by depressive symptoms. Future research should consider whether enhancing self-compassion improves women’s vascular health. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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