What is self –compassion?
Compassion is “the sensitivity to the experience of suffering, coupled with a deep desire to alleviate that suffering”.(K. Neff, 2011). Further Self-compassion can be operationalized as “simply compassion directed inward, relating to ourselves as the object of care and concern when faced with the experience of suffering” (K. D. Neff, 2011)
Studies on the importance of self-compassion
Self-compassion has numerous relation to human psychological wellbeing.(K. D. Neff & Vonk, 2009). A higher state of self-compassion has positive relations with feelings of happiness and optimism. Further a negative correlation with anxiety, depression, rumination and fear of failure (K. D. Neff, 2009) …show more content…
“Empathy is the "capacity" to share and understand another’s "state of mind" or emotion. It is often characterized as the ability to put oneself into another’s shoes, or in some way experience the outlook or emotions of another being within oneself ”.((Ioannidou & Konstantikaki, 2008).
Studies on empathy
A study has shown empathy helps the person for a better social behavior towards the others and helps well to comply with social rule.(Mcdonald & Messinger, 2013). Further higher level of empathy is helpful in cultivating increased good social behavior, social closeness and well-being.(Morelli, Lieberman, & Zaki, 2015).
To validate the Korean-translated Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Student version (JSE-HPS) and to investigate the empathy levels of pharmacy students in South Korea. The JSE-HPS and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) were administered to 452 pharmacy students in their second and third years at 5 Korean universities. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), correlations, and one-way ANOVAs were conducted for data analyses. The final sample size comprised 447 responses. The 3-factor model of the JSE-HPS was confirmed by CFA and the convergent validity was also supported by its correlations with the IRI subscales. The overall mean score was 80.3.Pharmacy students enrolled in women's or private universities reported significantly higher levels of overall empathy than their counterparts in co-edor national …show more content…
Subjects were randomized to an intervention group (n=20) or control group (n=20) and completed the JSE-HPS at baseline, 7 days post intervention, and 90 days post intervention. The intervention group consisted of a 3-day simulation, each day including a designated activity with loss of dominant hand usage, vision, and speech. The 3-day simulation increased empathy levels in the intervention group compared to the control group 7 days post intervention (p=0.035). However, there were no effects on empathy levels 90 days post intervention (p=0.38).Empathy scores increased but were not sustained in the long-term with a 3-day empathy intervention.(Lor, Truong, Ip, & Barnett,