Rebecca C Thurston1, Megan M Fritz2, Yuefang Chang3, Emma Barinas Mitchell4, Pauline M Maki5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 2. -Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 4. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. 5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Self-compassion is a positive psychological construct characterized by extending compassion toward 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. METHOD: Women (N = 195; M 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. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE: Self-compassion is a positive psychological construct characterized by extending compassion toward 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. METHOD: Women (N = 195; M 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. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Authors: James H Stein; Claudia E Korcarz; R Todd Hurst; Eva Lonn; Christopher B Kendall; Emile R Mohler; Samer S Najjar; Christopher M Rembold; Wendy S Post Journal: J Am Soc Echocardiogr Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 5.251
Authors: Salim S Virani; Alvaro Alonso; Emelia J Benjamin; Marcio S Bittencourt; Clifton W Callaway; April P Carson; Alanna M Chamberlain; Alexander R Chang; Susan Cheng; Francesca N Delling; Luc Djousse; Mitchell S V Elkind; Jane F Ferguson; Myriam Fornage; Sadiya S Khan; Brett M Kissela; Kristen L Knutson; Tak W Kwan; Daniel T Lackland; Tené T Lewis; Judith H Lichtman; Chris T Longenecker; Matthew Shane Loop; Pamela L Lutsey; Seth S Martin; Kunihiro Matsushita; Andrew E Moran; Michael E Mussolino; Amanda Marma Perak; Wayne D Rosamond; Gregory A Roth; Uchechukwu K A Sampson; Gary M Satou; Emily B Schroeder; Svati H Shah; Christina M Shay; Nicole L Spartano; Andrew Stokes; David L Tirschwell; Lisa B VanWagner; Connie W Tsao Journal: Circulation Date: 2020-01-29 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Rebecca C Thurston; Yuefang Chang; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; J Richard Jennings; Doug P Landsittel; Nanette Santoro; Roland von Känel; Karen A Matthews Journal: Stroke Date: 2016-11-10 Impact factor: 7.914