Improvements in Compassion and Fears of Compassion throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multinational Study
Improvements in Compassion and Fears of Compassion throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multinational Study
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Matos, Marcela
McEwan, Kirsten
Kanovský, Martin
Halamová, Júlia
Steindl, Stanley R.
Ferreira, Nuno
Linharelhos, Mariana
Rijo, Daniel
Asano, Kenichi
Vilas, Sara P.
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2023-01-19
Publisher
Journal title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Issue
3
Volume
20
Pages
Pages
1-17
ISSN
1660-4601
ISSN of series
Access date
2023-01-19
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
During large-scale disasters, social support, caring behaviours, and compassion are shown to protect against poor mental health outcomes. This multi-national study aimed to assess the fluctuations in compassion over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (Time 1 n = 4156, Time 2 n = 980, Time 3 n = 825) from 23 countries completed online self-report questionnaires measuring the flows of compassion (i.e., Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales) and fears of compassion toward self and others and from others (i.e., Fears of Compassion Scales) and mental health at three time-points during a 10-month period. The results for the flows of compassion showed that self-compassion increased at Time 3. Compassion for others increased at Time 2 and 3 for the general population, but in contrast, it decreased in health professionals, possibly linked to burnout. Compassion from others did not change in Time 2, but it did increase significantly in Time 3. For fears of compassion, fears of self-compassion reduced over time, fears of compassion for others showed more variation, reducing for the general public but increasing for health professionals, whilst fears of compassion from others did not change over time. Health professionals, those with compassion training, older adults, and women showed greater flows of compassion and lower fears of compassion compared with the general population, those without compassion training, younger adults, and men. These findings highlight that, in a period of shared suffering, people from multiple countries and nationalities show a cumulative improvement in compassion and reduction in fears of compassion, suggesting that, when there is intense suffering, people become more compassionate to self and others and less afraid of, and resistant to, compassion
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
compassion
fears of compassion
longitudinal
multilevel modelling
multinational study
COVID-19
pandemic
fears of compassion
longitudinal
multilevel modelling
multinational study
COVID-19
pandemic
Keywords other
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20Acquisition Date30.08.2025
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