Self-compassion in autoimmune inflammatory conditions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship between self-compassion, illness perceptions, pain and fatigue and anxiety and depression in individuals living with autoimmune chronic inflammatory diseases.
IRAS ID
331968
Contact name
Gemma Cherry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The research was carried out by James Forster at the University of Liverpool as part of the completion of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. It was supervised by Dr Mary Gemma Cherry, Dr Suzanne Crozier and Professor Robert Moots. Dr Crozier and Professor Moots are based at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Sponsorship was sought from the University of Liverpool. The study received ethical approval from the Health Research Authority and NHS Research Ethics Committee. The study protocol number was UoL001825.
The study recruited 124 adults living with chronic inflammatory diseases, who attended Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation rheumatology department. Participants had Behçet’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or ankylosing spondylitis. They completed questionnaires about their health and psychological experiences.
People living with chronic inflammatory diseases can experience ongoing pain, fatigue and uncertainty about their health. These difficulties can affect everyday activities and emotional wellbeing. Anxiety and depression are more common in people with these conditions than in the general population. However, the psychological factors linked to distress are not fully understood. Understanding these factors could help healthcare professionals identify people who may need additional psychological support.
The study asked whether anxiety and depression were related to:
• pain and how much pain interfered with daily life;
• fatigue and how much fatigue interfered with daily life;
• people's beliefs and perceptions about their illness; and
• self-compassion, including being kind and understanding towards oneself.
It also asked whether self-compassion was linked with reported anxiety and depression after taking other factors into account.
The findings showed that greater pain, fatigue and more negative illness perceptions were associated with greater anxiety and depression. Fatigue's impact on daily life was particularly important. Self-compassion was associated with lower distress, but it did not independently explain anxiety or depression after other factors were considered.
Overall, the findings suggest that healthcare services should consider the impact of fatigue and people's beliefs about their illness when identifying psychological distress.This study recognises a need for effective psychological interventions for those living with an inflammatory condition. It aims to explore whether emotional distress is associated with pain, fatigue, illness perceptions and self-compassion in individuals living with autoinflammatory immune conditions. This study also aims to explore whether self-compassion accounts for additional variance in emotional distress in adults living with inflammatory conditions, when controlling for clinical and demographic factors (including pain and fatigue) and illness perceptions. The findings may support the use of self-compassion-based interventions for reducing emotional distress in this population.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0260
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion