Research News

We are very interested in any research that you are doing or have done, or research you know of in the area of compassion and self-compassion.  Please email all your information to the Foundation to Diane Woollands whose address you will find on the Contact page.  Published studies by the Mental Health Research Unit can be down loaded from the Downloads page.

This year has seen some important studies in self-compassion. 

Kristin Neff has published a number of papers and these can be found on her website. www.self-compassion.org

Mark Leary's research team has also published an important set of studies.  The paper is:

Leary, M.R. Tate, E.B., Adams, C.E., Allen, A.B. and Hancock, J (2007).  Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events:  The implications of treating oneself kindly.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 887 -904.

Sophie Mayhew and Paul Gilbert have submitted a paper exploring compassionate mind training in people with paranoid psychosis.  The findings were that two of three people did very well and one person felt he couldn't develop compassion because he had a secret and was unable to reveal that.

Helen Rockliff,  Paul Gilbert and Kirsten McEwan have looked at heart rate variability in students.  We have investigated the fact that some people find compassionate imagery soothing, whereas others find it difficult.  The evidence is that those who find it difficult are more likely to be self critical and have attachment difficulties.  This emphasises the importance of working with fear of self-compassion. 

The Mental Health Research Unit at Derby have just put in for two research grants to explore the impact of compassionate mind training on chronic depression.  There is very high competition for these grants - so fingers crossed!