The Impact of Compassion Meditation Training on Well-being and Related Variables: A Network Perspective
We computed networks comprising associations among well-being and other psychological variables before and after a Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT). Associations between self-compassion and adaptative emotional and cognitive regulation variables became stronger following CCT. The strength and expected influence centrality values (i.e., importance and influence in the network) increased for self-compassion measures, whereas the values declined for depression, anxiety, brooding, non-judgment and non-reactivity. After CCT, self-compassion, non-attachment, decentering, and emotional reappraisal were the most important nodes connecting the different subnetworks (i.e., highest bridge centrality values). Compassion, mindfulness, and well-being were the most predictable nodes (i.e., variance explained) by other nodes in the network, whereas psychopathology-related constructs diminished in their predictability after the program. Community analysis detected five clusters of nodes (i.e., psychopathology, self-compassion, mindfulness, well-being and compassion) prior to CCT and these remained largely unchanged after CCT. These results clarify the mechanisms through which compassion meditation may produce its effects.
Between April and December 2017, 198 participants enrolled in a standardized 8-week CCT at a university-associated research center specializing in Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Interventions. Inclusion criteria for the CCT were as follows: 1) 18 years of age or more, and 2) not having any current serious psychological disorder or substance use. Statistical analyses were conducted only for data from participants who completed pre-assessment and attended a minimum of 6 sessions (i.e., 75% of the program).
After applying all exclusion criteria, data from a total of 96 individuals were included in all analyses. Participants mean age was 47.78 (SD=9.80), 75% women, 93.7 % had higher education, 42.7% married, 79.2% employed, 11.5% with physical illness, 85.4% with previous meditation experience, being the meditation years average was 4.81 (SD=5.58).
- Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ, 20 items [α = .87]; [71]). It includes five component skills of of mindfulness: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience
- Non-Attachment Scale (NAS, 30 items [α = .93]; [72]). It measures the absence of fixation on thoughts, images, or sensory inputs, as well as an absence of internal pressure to get, hold, avoid, or change circumstances or experiences.
- Experiences Questionnaire (EQ, 11 items [α = .89]; [73]). It assesses the ability to observe one’s thoughts and feelings in a detached manner.
- Multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness (MAIA, 32 items [α = .94]; [74]). It measures interoceptive body awareness.
- Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF, 12 items [α = .88]; [75]). It measures three components of compassion to oneself: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
- Compassion Scale (CSP, 24 items [α = .86]; [76]). It assesses compassion to others, through the following components: kindness, indifference, common humanity, separation, mindfulness and disengagement.
- Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI, 14 items [α = .77]; [77]). It measures empathy towards others. In this study only the Empathic Concern subscale was included.
- Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS, 5 items [α = .87]; [78]). This is a measure of global life satisfaction.
- Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT-R, 10 items [α = .67]; [79]). It measures dispositional optimism.
- Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI, 11 items [α = .91]; [80]). A measure that includes both hedonic and eudaimonic components of psychological well-being.
- Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21, 21 items [α = .92]; [81]). It measures symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
- White Bear Supression Inventory (WBSI, 10 items [α = .89]; [82]). It measures unwanted intrusive thoughts and thought suppression.
- Ruminative Response Style (RRS, 22 items [α = .92]; [83]). It assesses an excessive focus on causes and consequences of depressive symptoms. It includes two factors: reflection and brooding.
- Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ, 10 items [α = .76]; [84]). It measures two emotional regulation strategies: reappraisal and suppression.
- Attentional Control Scale (ACS, 20 items [α = .84]; [85]). It assesses perceived ability in executive control over attention.
network_pre: 25 variables. Online assessment was completed the week before starting MBSR.
- mindfulness ="FFMQ_O","FFMQ_D","FFMQ_A","FFMQ_J","FFMQ_R" (5 subscales of Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form), "NAS","EQ","MAIA".
- compassion = "SCS_A","SCS_H","SCS_M"(3 subscales of Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form),"CSP","IRI_E" (empathy subscale of Interpersonal Reactivity Index),
- psychologycal wellbeing = "SWLS","LOT","PHI",
- psychologycal distress = "DASS_S","DASS_D","DASS_A"(3 subsclaes of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales)
- Emotional and cognitive control = "WBSI", "RRS_B", "RRS_R"(2 subsclale of Ruminative Response Style), "ERQ_R", "ERQ_S" (2 subscales of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), "ACS"
network_post: 25 variables. Online assessment was completed during the week after the end of the MBSR.
- mindfulness ="FFMQ_O","FFMQ_D","FFMQ_A","FFMQ_J","FFMQ_R" (5 subscales of Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form), "NAS","EQ","MAIA".
- compassion = "SCS_A","SCS_H","SCS_M"(3 subscales of Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form),"CSP","IRI_E" (empathy subscale of Interpersonal Reactivity Index),
- psychologycal wellbeing = "SWLS","LOT","PHI",
- psychologycal distress = "DASS_S","DASS_D","DASS_A"(3 subsclaes of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales)
- Emotional and cognitive control = "WBSI", "RRS_B", "RRS_R"(2 subsclale of Ruminative Response Style), "ERQ_R", "ERQ_S" (2 subscales of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), "ACS"
MBSR_network_analysis.R contains the analysis done in the paper and the supplementary material.