The Independent Relationships of Metacognition, Mindfulness, and Cognitive Insight to Self-Compassion in Schizophrenia

Abstract

The debilitating nature of psychosis may be exacerbated by societal stigma and feelings of social isolation over and above positive (e.g., hallucinations) and negative (e.g., flat affect) symptoms. Thus, recovery may be facilitated by increasing self-compassion, the ability to respond with a nonjudgmental attitude of kindness toward oneself as a result of connecting with one's own inadequacies and suffering. We conducted a stepwise regression in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 92) to determine the unique contributions of cognitive variables in predicting self-compassion, such as metacognition (the ability to form complex and integrated ideas about oneself and others), mindfulness, and cognitive insight. Results indicated that increased metacognitive awareness of others and mindfulness uniquely predicted greater self-compassion (i.e., self-kindness), whereas increased cognitive insight predicted greater lack of self-compassion (i.e., self-judgment). These findings suggest the potential for mindfulness and metacognitive interventions to increase positive self-compassion and promote recovery in psychosis.