(PS1-C51) A Content Analysis of Self-compassion and Reappraisal Writing in the Context of Social Anxiety

Written methods of inducing self-compassion are most beneficial among those high in social anxiety, compared to an interview or meditation (Siegel & Kocovski, 2020). However, no studies have conducted a content analysis on the amount of self-compassion expressed in written responses. The primary aim of the present research was to analyze the written responses from a self-compassion induction compared with reappraisal and control writing conditions.
 

Participants (Study 1 N = 342; Study 2 N = 158 students) recalled a past anxiety-provoking speech, then were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: self-compassion, reappraisal, or control. In the self-compassion condition, they were guided to write about their speech mindfully, with self-kindness, and common humanity. In the reappraisal condition, they were guided to challenge their thoughts. In the control condition, they described their situation. Responses from all conditions were coded by two research assistants evaluating the amount of self-compassion and reappraisal expressed. Good agreement was found between raters (Study 1 ICC = .75; Study 2 ICC = .76)
 

First, the amount of self-compassion expressed was analyzed. In both studies, there was a significant difference across conditions on the amount of self-compassion expressed (Study 1: F(2,339) = 215.66, p < .001; Study 2: F(2,155) = 145.37, p < .001). Those in the self-compassion condition (Study 1: M = 3.69, SD = .96; Study 2: M = 4.37 SD=.57) wrote significantly more self-compassionately than those in the control (Study 1: M = 1.07, SD = .84; Study 2: M = 1.57, SD = 1.02) and the reappraisal conditions (Study 1: M = 2.49, SD = 1.04; Study 2: M = 3.08 SD = .88), p’s < .001. In both studies, those in the reappraisal condition wrote significantly more compassionately than those in the control condition, p < .001.
 

Next, the amount of reappraisal expressed was analyzed. There was a significant difference across conditions on the amount of reappraisal expressed in both studies (Study 1: F(2,339) = 194.07, p < .001; Study 2: F(2, 155) = 121.71, p < .001). For Study 1, those in the self-compassion condition (M = 3.50, SD = .88) displayed significantly more reappraisal than those in the control (M = 1.07, SD = .99) and reappraisal conditions (M = 3.00, SD = 1.10), p’s < .001. Additionally, those in the reappraisal condition displayed significantly more reappraisal than those in the control condition, p < .001. In Study 2, those in the self-compassion (M = 4.01, SD = .72) and reappraisal conditions (M = 3.85 SD =.81) displayed significantly more reappraisal than those in the control condition (M = 1.68 SD = 1.00), p’s < .001, but did not differ significantly from one another, p = .60.
 

These results demonstrate overlap between self-compassion and reappraisal writing exercises. Although self-compassion prompts led to the highest levels of self-compassion, reappraisal prompts led to higher self-compassion than control. Thus, reappraisal prompts seem to also promote self-compassion. Surprisingly, in neither study was reappraisal rated significantly higher for the reappraisal writing condition compared to the self-compassion writing condition. Thus, engaging in self-compassion seems to be a way in which one can reappraise social stress.