JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Caregiver burden can impact on the mental health of family caregivers, but self-compassion may help mitigate these costs. Brief self-compassion interventions have been shown to be useful but have not been tested in this population.

Objective:

This research was designed to test the effects of a brief self-compassion intervention and its components (mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness) on state mental health when reflecting on difficult family caregiving experiences.

Methods:

British caregivers were recruited through an online panel. Three experimental studies manipulated the self-compassion intervention. In Study 1 (N = 206) and Study 2 (N = 224) participants wrote about a difficult caregiving experience focusing on one self-compassion component (self-kindness, common humanity, or mindfulness). In Study 3 (N = 222) participants focused on all components. State self-compassion, serenity, guilt, and sadness were measured.

Results:

In Studies 1 and 2, condition effects showed mindfulness unexpectedly lowered mood. Inconsistent and modest benefits to affect (lowered sadness and guilt; higher serenity) were achieved by engagement in self-kindness and common humanity in Studies 1 and 2; significant benefits for self-compassion and mood were found in Study 3. More intensive efforts should be made to promote self-compassion in carers of older adults, with care placed when relying on mindfulness approaches.

Conclusions:

Self-compassionate writing may be beneficial for family caregivers, but more intensive interventions are needed. Further studies are required to investigate dosage and content needed for greatest effects.