Mindfulness, selfcompassion, and depressive symptoms in chronic pain: The role of pain acceptance.
Sérgio A Carvalho, David Gillanders, Lara Palmeira, José Pinto-Gouveia, Paula Castilho
Journal of Clinical Psychology December 2018 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22689 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study; path analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 231 |
| Population | Women with chronic musculoskeletal pain |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Activity engagement Chronic pain Depressive symptoms Pain willingness Self-compassion |
| Key findings | Higher mindfulness and self-compassion were associated with lower pain intensity and depressive symptoms and greater activity engagement. Activity engagement mediated the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms independently of pain intensity, while pain willingness showed no significant correlations. The authors argue these findings support the hypothesis that self-compassion is rooted in a motivational system, reducing depressive symptoms by increasing engagement with valued actions despite pain. |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test a theory driven model in which pain acceptance (both pain willingness [PW] and activity engagement [AE]) mediates the relationships of mindfulness and selfcompassion with depressive symptoms, while controlling for pain intensity. A path analysis was conducted using AMOS software to test a meditational model in a sample of women with chronic musculoskeletal pain (N = 231). Participants with higher levels of mindful awareness and selfcompassion presented lower levels of pain intensity and depressive symptoms, and higher levels of AE. PW did not significantly correlate with any variable in study. The mediation analysis showed that AE mediated the relationship between selfcompassion and depressive symptoms, independently from pain intensity. These findings seem to corroborate the hypothesis that selfcompassion is rooted in a motivational system, as it seems to correlate with less depressive symptoms through increasing the engagement with valued actions despite experiencing pain.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Global Meditation Practices: A Literature Review. Holistic Nursing Practice
- A randomized-controlled trial comparing relative effects of mindfulness-based interoceptive exposure focus versus distraction on cold-pressor induced pain. Behaviour Research and Therapy July 26, 2025
- How do placebo effects contribute to mindfulness-based analgesia? Probing acute pain effects and interactions using a randomized balanced placebo design Pain October 1, 2022
- Grieving a disrupted biography: an interpretative phenomenological analysis exploring barriers to the use of mindfulness after neurological injury or impairment. BMC Psychology August 24, 2021
- Brief Self-Compassion Training Alters Neural Responses to Evoked Pain for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study. Pain Medicine October 1, 2020
Cites 13
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
and 8 more in the library