p–ISSN: 2723 - 6609 e-ISSN: 2745-5254
Vol. 4, No. 10 October 2023 http://jist.publikasiindonesia.id/
Doi: 10.59141/jist.v4i10.767 1663
THE ROLE OF SELF-COMPASSION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS:
NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW IN INDONESIAN RESEARCH
PARTICIPANTS
Herliyana Isnaeni
UIN Sunan Ampel, Indonesia
Email: [email protected]
*Correspondence
ABSTRACT
Keywords: self-compassion;
psychological aspect; narrative
literature review; Indonesian
participant.
Self-compassion is a person's way of loving themselves and accepting
themselves. Self-compassion is also a concept of kindness to oneself,
especially in times of difficulty or failure. This research method uses a
qualitative approach, namely a narrative literature review. There are ten
references indexed in the Google Scholar database with a publication
range from 2018 to 2023. The references used are research using
Indonesian participants. The focus of the discussion is related to self-
compassion. This research shows that the role of self-compassion in
daily life influences many psychological aspects of various individual
characteristics. Several variables are often associated with self-
compassion, namely depression, loneliness, well-being, stress, social
support, and self-regulation. It is hoped that further research can examine
more deeply and broadly the role of self-compassion in various
individual characteristics.
Introduction
Self-compassion is an individual's way of continuing to do good despite being in
unpleasant conditions. Someone who has self-compassion will have greater awareness
and often have more positive health (Bluth & Neff, 2018). Self-compassion has a good
function in helping individuals survive stressful or stressful conditions. Self-compassion
can be considered as a self-resource capable of helping to handle difficult situations, deal
with negative emotions, and avoid excessive poor self-identification (Ewert et al., 2021).
Through self-compassion, a person will love and cherish himself with what he has but do
not forget to also realize what must be improved (Riany & Ihsana, 2021).
Indicators of the formation of self-compassion according to Neff (2003), namely
self-kindness, self-judgment, humanity (common humanity), feelings of isolation
(isolation), mindfulness (mindfulness), and overidentification (overidentification). Self-
kindness is a condition when one still loves oneself even though you are experiencing
unpleasant conditions. A person who has self-kindness will understand his pain and
failure and that the condition is a process in life that can be passed. Self-assessment in
self-compassion is a condition when a person can criticize or judge himself to be an
evaluation of what he already has and positive things that can be improved. Meanwhile,
humanity is an understanding that everyone can experience various difficult times. In the
aspect of feeling isolated, an example is the feeling that someone has when they feel alone
and dragged on by mistakes made themselves. Furthermore, in the aspect of excessive
Irani Harefa, Edi Hamdi, Tantri Yanuar, Rina Annindita
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1664
thought identification is when someone feels overwhelmed by negative thoughts and
emotions that arise (Cleare, Gumley, Cleare, & O’Connor, 2018).
Several studies that use Indonesian translate that self-compassion is self-
compassion (Erismadewi, Swedarma, & Antari, n.d.). (Ayulanningsih & Karjuniwati,
2020) research revealed that there is a correlation between self-compassion and subjective
well-being with divorced parents. Furthermore, in the results of research by (Pratiwi,
Dahlan, & Damaianti, 2019), self-compassion is related to positive thoughts related to
oneself, especially in the study discussing body image.
Based on this explanation, this study aims to explore self-compassion and its
relationship with other psychological variables more deeply. Researchers also focused on
analyzing articles discussing self-compassion that specifically used Indonesian
participants.
Research Methods
Self-compassion is an individual's way of continuing to do good despite being in
unpleasant conditions. Someone who has self-compassion will have greater awareness
and often have more positive health (Bluth & Neff, 2018). Self-compassion has a good
function in helping individuals survive stressful or stressful conditions. Self-compassion
can be considered as a self-resource capable of helping to handle difficult situations, deal
with negative emotions, and avoid excessive poor self-identification (Fourianalistyawati,
Uswatunnisa, & Chairunnisa, 2018). Through self-compassion, a person will love and
cherish himself with what he has but do not forget to also realize what must be improved.
Indicators of the formation of self-compassion according to Neff (2003), namely
self-kindness, self-judgment, humanity (common humanity), feelings of isolation
(isolation), mindfulness (mindfulness), and overidentification (overidentification). Self-
kindness is a condition when one still loves oneself even though you are experiencing
unpleasant conditions. A person who has self-kindness will understand his pain and
failure and that the condition is a process in life that can be passed. Self-assessment in
self-compassion is a condition when a person can criticize or judge himself to be an
evaluation of what he already has and positive things that can be improved. Meanwhile,
humanity is an understanding that everyone can experience various difficult times. In the
aspect of feeling isolated, an example is the feeling that someone has when they feel alone
and dragged on by mistakes made themselves. Furthermore, in the aspect of excessive
thought identification is when someone feels overwhelmed by negative thoughts and
emotions that arise (Cleare et al., 2018).
Several studies that use Indonesian translate that self-compassion is self-
compassion (Erismadewi et al., n.d.). (Ayulanningsih & Karjuniwati, 2020) research
revealed that there is a correlation between self-compassion and subjective well-being
with divorced parents. Furthermore, in the results of research by Erismadewi et al. (2022),
self-compassion is related to positive thoughts related to oneself, especially in the study
discussing body image.
Improvement Of Electric Motor Inspection Process In Service Repair Workshop: With Lean
Consumption Map Approach
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1665
Based on this explanation, the purpose of this study is to explore more deeply self-
compassion and its relationship with other psychological variables. Researchers also
focused on analyzing articles discussing self-compassion that specifically used
Indonesian participants.
Results and Discussion
In this narrative literature review research, several research articles were found
about self-compassion. The analysis focused on research conducted on Indonesian
participants. The results of the analysis obtained by the researcher are described in the
following table:
Author
(Year)
Heading
Method
Sample
Instrument
Result
Ausie &
Poerwandari
(2021)
The role of
loneliness
and self-
compassion
as predictors
of depressive
symptoms in
college
students
Quantitativ
e, multiple
regression
analysis
401 students
residing in
the
Jabodetabek
area
6-Item De Jong
Gierveld
Loneliness
Scale, Self-
Compassion
Scale – Short
Form, & Patient
Health
Questionnaire –
9
Loneliness and
self-compassion
significantly
predict
depressive
symptoms. Self-
compassion
significantly
reduces
symptoms of
depression.
Fourianalistya
wati dkk.
(2018)
The Role of
Mindfulness
and Self
Compassion
toward
Depression
among
Pregnant
Women
Quantitativ
e,
correlation
analysis,
multiple
regression
analysis
121 women
who are
pregnant
with the age
of more than
18 years and
domiciled in
the
Jabodetabek
area
The Five Facets
of Mindfulness
Questionnaire
(FFMQ), Self-
Compassion
Scale (SCS), &
Edinburgh
Postnatal
Depression
Scale (EPDS)
Self-
compassion
secara
keseluruhan
juga ditemukan
berkontribusi
signifikan
dalam
memprediksi
depresi.
Kotera dkk.
(2022)
Mental well-
being of
Indonesian
Students:
Mean
Comparison
with
UK students
and
relationships
with self-
Quantitativ
e,
correlation
analysis,
regression,
and
mediation
156
Indonesian
students and
145 UK
students
Short Warwick–
Edinburgh
Mental
Wellbeing
Scale, Self-
Compassion
Scale–Short
Form, Utrecht
Work
Engagement
Scale
Self-
compassion
is the strongest
predictor of
mental well-
being.
Irani Harefa, Edi Hamdi, Tantri Yanuar, Rina Annindita
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1666
compassion
and
academic
engagement
Pratiwi dkk.
(2019)
The effect of
self-
compassion
on loneliness
in regional
college
students
Quantitativ
e, simple
regression
analysis
260 overseas
students
class of 2018
at the
University
Indonesian
Education
Self-compassion
Scale – Short
Version &
UCLA
Loneliness
Scale Version 3
Self-
compassion
significantly
contributed
9.6% to
loneliness in
overseas
students.
Renggani dkk.
(2018)
Peran self-
compassion
terhadap
psychologica
l well-being
pengajar
muda
in Indonesia
teaching
Quantitativ
e, simple
regression
analysis
60 Young
teachers
assigned to
rural areas
Skala self-
compassion
disusun oleh
peneliti dan
psychological
well-being scale
by Ryff (1989)
Self-
compassion
affects 62.8%
of
psychological
issues
well-being of
young teachers.
Riany &
Ihsana (2021)
Parenting
stress, social
support, self-
compassion,
and
parenting
practices
among
mothers of
children with
ASD
and ADHD
Quantitativ
e,
MANOVA,
regression
analysis
34
participants
were mothers
of ASD
children
(52%) and 31
participants
were mothers
of ADHD
children
(48%)
The Parental
Stress Scale,
The
Multidimension
al Scale of
Perceived Social
Support, The
Self-compassion
Scale, and the
Parent Construct
Self-
compassion has
a strong
association with
social support
and positive
parenting in
both ASD and
ADHD
mothers.
Another study
found a
negative
relationship
between self-
compassion and
negative
parenting
practices in
mothers of
ADHD
children.
Improvement Of Electric Motor Inspection Process In Service Repair Workshop: With Lean
Consumption Map Approach
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1667
Salsabila &
Widyasari
(2021)
Mindfulness
and
academic
resilience
among
unprivileged
college
students: The
mediating
role of self-
compassion
Quantitativ
e,
mediation
analysis
131
mahasiswa
minimal
semester 2
The
Mindfulness
Attention
Awareness
Scale (MAAS),
The Self-
Compassion
Scale (SCS),
and the
Academic
Resilience Scale
(ARS-30)
Self-
compassion
sepenuhnya
memediasi the
relationship
between
mindfulness
and academic
resilience
among
underprivileged
students in
Indonesia.
Mindfulness
cannot directly
improve
participants'
academic
resilience
without the role
of self-
compassion.
Sugianto dkk.
(2022)
Health Self-
regulation
and Self-
compassion
as Predictors
of COVID-
19
Preventive
Behavior
Indonesia
sample
Quantitativ
e, multiple
regression
analysis
366
participants
ranging in
age from 17
to 64 years
The Indonesian
version of
Positive and
Negative Affect
Schedule
(PANAS) &
Control Beliefs
Inventory (CBI)
Self-
compassion and
health self-
regulation
predict COVID-
19 prevention
behaviors.
Higher levels of
self-compassion
and health self-
regulation
predict a higher
prevalence of
COVID-19
prevention
behaviors, and
vice versa.
Several research articles analyzed illustrate that self-compassion correlates with
several psychological variables including loneliness and depression (Ausie &
Poerwandari, 2021), mindfulness and depression (Fourianalistyawati et al., 2018),
mindfulness and resilience (Salsabila & Widyasari, 2021), mental well-being and
Irani Harefa, Edi Hamdi, Tantri Yanuar, Rina Annindita
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1668
academic engagement (Kotera et al., 2022), and self-regulation (Sugianto, Anna, &
Sutanto, 2022).
In line with the results of the analysis that has been done, researchers found self-
compassion has a link with symptoms of depression. Research conducted by (Zeller,
Yuval, Nitzan-Assayag, & Bernstein, 2015) found the fact that adolescents who have
trauma events will have a risk for depression. The condition of adolescents who have self-
compassion turns out to be a protective factor for these adolescents not to experience
depressive disorders by seeing a decrease in depressive symptoms in several periods of
periodic observation. In addition, the results of research by (Zeller et al., 2015) show that
it is important for someone to have self-compassion to help themselves in facing difficult
times. Realizing that the importance of loving oneself will help one continue to be kind
to oneself even in stressful conditions.
In addition to depression variables, studies related to self-compassion are associated
with loneliness variables. One of the studies that discusses self-compassion and loneliness
is the research of (Liu, Yang, Wu, Kong, & Cui, 2020). In the study, it was found that
self-compassion has a relationship and influence in the emergence of loneliness. Self-
compassion has a negative influence on loneliness. This negative influence can mean that
someone who has high self-compassion tends to be lower.
Furthermore, there is one other interesting topic related to self-compassion.
According to (McKay & Walker, 2021), mindfulness and self-compassion have a
relationship with developmental indicators in a person. Mindfulness was found to be used
to predict psychological well-being and that relationship was mediated by self-
compassion. Someone who regularly practices mindfulness turns out to be happier. This
is because mindfulness is an activity to give full attention to oneself so that it raises a
sense of compassion for oneself. This also affects his psychological well-being.
Other studies explain that self-compassion is closely related to resilience. This
statement is supported by research by (Lefebvre, Montani, & Courcy, 2020) which found
results that instilling self-compassion is needed to build employee resilience in the
workplace. The results of the same study also explain that when self-compassion in each
member of the organization is strengthened, it is slowly able to foster resilience in the
organization.
Self-compassion also has a significant influence on a person's well-being.
According to (López, Sanderman, Ranchor, & Schroevers, 2018), the influence of self-
compassion on positive affectation can bring out a sense of emotional warmth and feel
understood when someone is in a state of distress. As a complement, a person facing an
unpleasant situation needs self-compassion to have resilience while still promoting
healthy behaviors aimed at maintaining one's well-being.
Based on the discussion above, researchers can conclude that self-compassion has
an important role in affecting several psychological conditions of a person. Self-
compassion can be considered an ability that everyone should be able to possess. Self-
compassion plays a role in helping a person survive in a bad situation or even an
uncomfortable condition. When one realizes that one also needs to feel loved, then one
Improvement Of Electric Motor Inspection Process In Service Repair Workshop: With Lean
Consumption Map Approach
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1669
needs to start by loving oneself. It is hoped that further research can expand studies related
to self-compassion on the characteristics of different research subjects and the
relationship of self-compassion with other psychological variables. This can add
knowledge to the topic of self-compassion, especially research conducted in Indonesia.
Conclusion
Based on the results of the literature review it was found that self-compassion is
associated with several psychological variables such as depression, loneliness, well-
being, social support, self-regulation, and resilience. Self-compassion has a close
relationship with the psychological condition of someone who is going through or has
experienced difficult times. Therefore, the study of psychology related to self-compassion
is very important to be expanded and deepened. The more people understand the
importance of having self-compassion, the more they can deal with stressful situations.
Irani Harefa, Edi Hamdi, Tantri Yanuar, Rina Annindita
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2023 1670
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