Exploring the experience of self-compassion and its role in adjustment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the experience of self-compassion and its role in adjustment to persistent pain
IRAS ID
330585
Contact name
Katy Bourne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study will explore the role of self-compassion in the process of adjusting to persistent (sometimes called chronic) pain. Self-compassion has been defined as “a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try to alleviate and prevent it”. Chronic or persistent pain is different from acute pain you might experience following an injury, in that it lasts more than 3-months and causes significant impact on mental, physical, or social wellbeing. This study will explore people’s experience of adapting or learning to live with persistent pain and what factors might have impacted their ability to adjust to this long-term health condition.
This study will interview people who have the experience of attending a compassion-focused pain management group. It will ask them about their process of adjusting to living with chronic pain and asking them about what they found helpful or unhelpful on their recovery journey. The interviews will then be transcribed, and themes will be drawn from the content of the discussion. These themes will be linked to existing research to gain a better understanding of how self-compassion aids the process of adjustment in pain; and how services might be improved accordingly.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0218
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion