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The ‘Flow’ of compassion: A meta-analysis of the fears of compassion scales and psychological functioning
Abstract
This meta-analysis examined the associations between the fears of compassion and mental health. We extracted 19 studies reporting 154 effect sizes (Pearson's r) from 22 independent samples published during the last seven years, with data from 4723 participants. All studies used the Fears of Compassion Scales (FCS), which includes three subscales; fears of compassion for self, for others, and receiving from others. Specific mental health outcomes included: depression; anxiety; distress; and well-being, as well as the psychological vulnerability factors of self-criticism and shame. The overall association between the three FCS subscales and mental health difficulties was .49, .30 and .48 for fears of self-compassion, fears of compassion for others, and fears of compassion from others, respectively. Across mental health domains and vulnerability factors, pooled effect sizes ranged between r = .13 and .55 (in absolute value), with the strongest associations found between the mental health variables of shame, self-criticism, and depression, and the FCS subscales of fears of self-compassion and fears of receiving compassion. Moderator analyses were also conducted, including, age, gender, publication status, and sample (clinical vs. non-clinical). Overall, clinical populations demonstrated significantly stronger associations between mental health difficulties and fears of self-compassion, relative to non-clinical populations.
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“Results can also be understood in the context of research on fears of compassion, in which fear of receiving compassion has a stronger association with mental health outcomes than fears of being compassionate to others [37].”
From Validation of the compassionate engagement and action scales, compassion scale, and Sussex-Oxford compassion scales in a French-Canadian sample (2024) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“A meta-analysis found that fear of compassion was more strongly related to reduced mental health in clinical populations compared to non-clinical populations (Kirby et al., 2019), and thus targeting these processes in therapy may be relevant.”
From Group-based compassion-focused therapy for prolonged grief symptoms in adults – Results from a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as Kirby et al., 2019
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Sorted by citations
Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy
Gilbert, P. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161 · Cited by 365
“There are now many studies on how fears of compassion (Pauley and MacPherson, 2010; Gilbert et al., 2011) are linked to mental health problems (for a major meta-analysis of this scale see Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialCraig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020) · Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1080/14737175.2020.1746184 · Cited by 201
“Recent meta-analytic work [2] exploring fears of compassion relating to these three flows indicates that fears of self compassion and fears of compassion from another to oneself exhibit the strongest correlations with shame, selfcriticism and depression.”
BackgroundWakelin, K. E., Perman, G., & Simonds, L. M. (2022) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2586 · Cited by 170
“Besides Kirby et al.'s (2019) meta-analysis examining fears of compassion, the majority of previous reviews have taken a diagnostic stance by analysing anxiety and depression outcomes (Ferrari et al., 2019; Kirby et al., 2017; Wilson et al., 2019).”
BackgroundNeurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion
Kim, J. J., Parker, S. L., Doty, J. R., Cunnington, R., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63846-3 · Cited by 153
Self-citationKim, J. J., Cunnington, R., & Kirby, J. N. (2019) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.023 · Cited by 125
Self-citationDifferences in the Semantics of Prosocial Words: an Exploration of Compassion and Kindness
Gilbert, P., Basran, J. K., MacArthur, M., & Kirby, J. N. (2019) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-019-01191-x · Cited by 120
Self-citationAustin, J., Drossaert, C. H. C., Schroevers, M. J., Sanderman, R., Kirby, J. N., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2021) · Psychology & Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2019.1699090 · Cited by 88
“Moreover, since physical outcomes are particularly relevant to this population, and compassion-based interventions have been associated with improved physical outcomes like adaptive heart rate variability (Kirby et al., 2019), further examining the use of sensor technology in this context is relevant.”
BackgroundThe Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Attachment, Depression, and Quality of Life
Brophy, K., Brähler, E., Hinz, A., Schmidt, S., & Körner, A. (2020) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.066 · Cited by 85
“A recent meta-analysis found that fears of self-compassion and fears of receiving compassion from others were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and distress (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundSelf-compassion, social rank, and psychological distress in athletes of varying competitive levels
Walton, C. C., Baranoff, J. A., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101733 · Cited by 92
Self-citationGilbert, P. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582090 · Cited by 77
The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related post-traumatic growth and stress
Matos, M., McEwan, K., Kanovský, M., Halamová, J., Steindl, S. R., Ferreira, N., Linharelhos, M., Rijo, D., Asano, K., Vilas, S. P., et al. (2021) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0261384 · Cited by 73
Self-citationMatos, M., McEwan, K., Kanovský, M., Halamová, J., Steindl, S. R., Ferreira, N., Linharelhos, M., Rijo, D., Asano, K., Márquez, M. G., et al. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01822-2 · Cited by 82
Self-citationChan, K. K. S., Lee, J. C., Yu, E. K. W., Chan, A. W. Y., Leung, A. N. M., Cheung, R. Y. M., Li, C. W., Kong, R. H.-M., Chen, J., Wan, L. Y. S. 溫., et al. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01891-x · Cited by 89
Sahdra, B. K., Ciarrochi, J., Fraser, M. I., Yap, K., Haller, E., Hayes, S. C., Hofmann, S. G., & Gloster, A. T. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02187-4 · Cited by 68
Gilbert, P. (2024) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12466 · Cited by 66
Scared of compassion: Fear of compassion in anxiety, mood, and non‐clinical groups
Merritt, O. A., & Purdon, C. L. (2020) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12250 · Cited by 54
Kirby, J. N. (2019) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci10010003 · Cited by 65
“Yet no EBPP has a well-developed grounding in physiology or affiliative behaviours [40], and none have aimed to measure other outcomes, such as parent or child physiology (e.”
BackgroundSelf-citationCondon, P., & Makransky, J. J. (2020) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691620922200 · Cited by 61
“Moments of receiving compassion can also trigger memories of wanting but not receiving affection and care, an awareness of inner loneliness, or yearning for close and accepting relationships (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundMatos, M., McEwan, K., Kanovský, M., Halamová, J., Steindl, S. R., Ferreira, N. B., Linharelhos, M., Rijo, D., Asano, K., Gregório, S., et al. (2021) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2601 · Cited by 59
“Thus, it was hypothesized that fears of compassion for self and from others (more so than fears of compassion for others) would predict psychological distress (Kirby et al., 2019) and a lack of social safeness (Kelly & Dupasquier, 2016) during the pandemic.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationCompassion as a Skill: A Comparison of Contemplative and Evolution-Based Approaches
Gilbert, P., & Gordon, W. V. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02173-w · Cited by 64
“Beliefs can fuel fear and avoidance of compassion; that compassion is a weakness or is undeserved (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundSteindl, S. R., Bell, T., Dixon, A., & Kirby, J. N. (2022) · Counselling and Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1002/capr.12530 · Cited by 60
Self-citationSteindl, S. R., Tellegen, C. L., Filus, A., Seppala, E. M., Doty, J. R., & Kirby, J. N. (2021) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050067.2021.1893110 · Cited by 53
“As a result the individual will not only be able to better tolerate compassion, but also the exposure will enable a new relationship to compassion to be formed, one which enables activation of parasympathetic system, and leads to improved mental health and wellbeing (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationDi Bello, M., Ottaviani, C., & Petrocchi, N. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.617443 · Cited by 54
“…of compassion, that is whether the ability to pay sensitive attention to suffering and effectively engage with it is accompanied by the intention and capacity to start the response process (an appropriate action) to alleviate the suffering (Gilbert, 2017b; Kirby et al., 2019; Gilbert, 2020).”
BackgroundMurfield, J., Moyle, W., O’Donovan, A., & Ware, R. S. (2024) · Clinical Gerontologist · doi:10.1080/07317115.2020.1846650 · Cited by 43
“…which when assessed as fears of compassion (e.g., receiving compassion is indulgent, a weakness, will be judged for it) is related to depression, shame, and self-criticism (Kirby, Day, & Sagar, 2019) – the CEAS may be assessing the availability of caregivers’ significant others to be compassionate.”
BackgroundMcBride, N. L., Bates, G. W., Elphinstone, B., & Whitehead, R. E. (2022) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1111/papt.12417 · Cited by 59
“Kirby et al. (2019) argued that these aspects of compassion exist in a dynamic reciprocal relationship in which compassion can flow from one to another.”
BackgroundMatos, M., Duarte, C., Duarte, J., Pinto‐Gouveia, J., Petrocchi, N., & Gilbert, P. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01717-2 · Cited by 46
Burnout and depression in Australian psychologists: The moderating role of self-compassion
McCade, D., Frewen, A., & Fassnacht, D. (2021) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050067.2021.1890979 · Cited by 34
“explored research into the fear of compassion and selfcompassion, finding strong associations with selfcriticism, shame and depression (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundMatos, M., Palmeira, L., Albuquerque, I., Cunha, M. I. V. A., de Lima, M. P., Galhardo, A. B., Maratos, F. A., & Gilbert, P. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01778-3 · Cited by 44
Compassion‐focused therapy for body weight shame: A mixed methods pilot trial
Carter, A., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2488 · Cited by 53
Self-citationBeshai, S., Bueno, C., Yu, M., Feeney, J. R., & Pitariu, A. (2020) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103724 · Cited by 43
Fear leads to suffering: Fears of compassion predict restriction of the moral boundary
Crimston, C. R., Blessing, S., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2021) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjso.12483 · Cited by 40
Self-citationThe experience of loneliness: The role of fears of compassion and social safeness
Best, T., Herring, L., Clarke, C., Kirby, J. N., & Gilbert, P. (2021) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.111161 · Cited by 37
Self-citationSteindl, S. R., Yiu, R. X. Q., Baumann, T., & Matos, M. (2019) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1111/ap.12433 · Cited by 44
A Meta-analysis of Loving-Kindness Meditations on Self-Compassion
Reilly, E. B., & Stuyvenberg, C. L. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01972-x · Cited by 34
“Given Gilbert and colleagues (2011) theorized that an individual can fear or find it difficult to receive compassion and the associations between fears of compassion and anxiety, depression, shame, and self-criticism in a recent metaanalysis (Kirby et al., 2019), we suggest clinicians assess a client’s view of compass…”
BackgroundFox, J., Cattani, K., & Burlingame, G. M. (2020) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2020.1783708 · Cited by 37
“Furthermore, previous literature has measured these three outcomes (Joeng & Turner, 2015; Kirby et al., 2019; Matos et al., 2017; Naismith et al., 2020) with promising results.”
BackgroundSavari, Y., Mohagheghi, H., & Petrocchi, N. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01584-3 · Cited by 35
Attachment styles modulate neural markers of threat and imagery when engaging in self-criticism
Kim, J. J., Kent, K. M., Cunnington, R., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70772-x · Cited by 31
Self-citationBeaton, D. M., Sirois, F. M., & Milne, E. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01464-w · Cited by 36
“In previous research, self-compassion has been shown to be negatively associated with low mood (MacBeth and Gumley 2012) and fears of compassion have been demonstrated to be significantly associated with increased depression, anxiety and stress (Kirby et al. 2019).”
BackgroundCarter, A., Hoang, A., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2021) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/13591053211027641 · Cited by 29
“In contrast, compassionate motivations tend to buffer and reduce the impact of mental health distress (Kirby et al., 2019; Liss and Erchull, 2015).”
BackgroundSelf-citationMatos, M., Petrocchi, N., Irons, C., & Steindl, S. R. (2022) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.23474 · Cited by 31
A Bibliometric Review of Self-Compassion Research: Science Mapping the Literature, 1999 to 2020
Swami, V., Andersen, N., & Furnham, A. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01662-0 · Cited by 25
Maratos, F. A., Wood, W., Cahill, R., Hernández, Y. A. T., Matos, M., & Gilbert, P. (2024) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-024-02303-y · Cited by 25
“…Bluth & Eisenlohr-Moul, 2017; Seekis et al., 2023), rather than the much wider perspective of the flows of compassion, including compassion for self, compassion for others and receiving compassion from others (Gilbert et al., 2011; Gilbert & Simos, 2022; Kirby et al., 2019; Tarrasch et al., 2020).”
Johannsen, M., Schlander, C., Farver-Vestergaard, I., Lundorff, M., Wellnitz, K. B., Komischke-Konnerup, K. B., & O'Connor, M. (2022) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114683 · Cited by 23
Andersson, C., Mellner, C., Lilliengren, P., Einhorn, S., Bergsten, K. L., Stenström, E., & Osika, W. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.748140 · Cited by 32
“Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system provides feelings of psychological safety, in contrast to activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which occurs when an individual perceives threat or stress (Thayer and Lane, 2000; Liotti and Gilbert, 2011; Klimecki et al., 2014).”
BackgroundCompassion as a transdiagnostic target to reduce mental health symptoms and promote well-being
Kirby, J. N. (2025) · Nature Reviews Psychology · doi:10.1038/s44159-025-00422-4 · Cited by 32
Self-citationCarter, A., Steindl, S. R., Parker, S. L., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2023) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2023.02.001 · Cited by 30
Self-citationAsano, K., Tsuchiya, M., Okamoto, Y., Ohtani, T., Sensui, T., Masuyama, A., Isato, A., Shoji, M., Shiraishi, T., Shimizu, E., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903842 · Cited by 17
Benevolence – Associations With Stress, Mental Health, and Self-Compassion at the Workplace
Andersson, C., Stenfors, C. U. D., Lilliengren, P., Einhorn, S., & Osika, W. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.568625 · Cited by 30
“Therefore, it would be of interest to study how it relates to the fears in each direction of the compassionate flow and see if decreasing the fears and blocks (Kirby et al., 2019) will have a positive impact on benevolence.”
BackgroundCarter, A., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2021) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2021.1955118 · Cited by 28
“This is concerning, as fears of receiving compassion from others is associated with poorer mental health outcomes (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationBratt, A. S., Gralberg, I.-M., Svensson, I., & Rusner, M. (2020) · Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/1359104520931583 · Cited by 20
“Compassion from others and self-compassion (self-to-self) in particular seem to reduce shame and self-criticism, and, in turn, mental health problems such as depression (Hermanto et al., 2016; Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundCavalcanti, L. G., Steindl, S. R., Matos, M., & Boschen, M. J. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01510-3 · Cited by 22
Zhang, S., Guo, M., Wang, J., & Lin, L. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.780144 · Cited by 23
“Indeed, abundant literature has demonstrated that fear of compassion for self and fear of compassion from others are associated with various forms of emotional dysfunction (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialMcLean, L., Steindl, S. R., & Bambling, M. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01837-3 · Cited by 25
“The latter part was omitted from this study as the primary outcome was focused on fears relating to receiving compassion (from self and others) which have been found to be more strongly correlated with poorer mental health outcomes than the compassion for other subscales (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundChan, K. K. S., Yip, C. C. H., & Tsui, J. K. C. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02088-6 · Cited by 29
Compassion Questionnaires: Scales Development and Validation
Khoury, B., Vergara, R. C., & Spinelli, C. (2023) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-023-10416-2 · Cited by 24
“For example, fears of receiving compassion are negatively related to self-compassion (Gilbert et al., 2011) and associated with negative outcomes, such as depression, shame, and self-criticism (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundPosition paper – CFT for psychosis
Heriot-Maitland, C. (2023) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1111/papt.12490 · Cited by 21
“The evidence for fears of compassion being associated with poor mental health outcomes is summarised in a recent meta-analysis by Kirby et al. (2019), using data from 4723 participants in 19 studies who have competed the Fears of Compassion Scales (Gilbert et al., 2011).”
Gilbert, P., Basran, J. K., Raven, J., Gilbert, H., Petrocchi, N., Cheli, S., Rayner, A., Hayes, A., Lucre, K., Minou, P., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.841932 · Cited by 22
“…psychotherapies seek to help clients with common processes that include: Mind awareness, differentiation, tolerance, integration and transformation which increase people’s biopsychosocial abilities to adapt to changing internal and external events (Gilbert and Kirby, 2019; Gilbert and Simos, 2022).”
BackgroundCompassion Mediates Poor Sleep Quality and Mental Health Outcomes
Kim, J. J., Oldham, M., Fernando, A. T., & Kirby, J. N. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01595-8 · Cited by 19
Self-citationNurturing self-compassionate performers
Walton, C. C., Osborne, M. S., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2022) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050067.2022.2033952 · Cited by 24
“The Fears of Compassion Scale (Gilbert et al., 2011) is a good example, with meta-analytic work finding these fears are associated with higher levels of self-criticism, shame, depression and anxiety (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundSelf-citationThe Role of Likeability in Discriminating Between Kindness and Compassion
Kirby, J. N., Gerrish, R., Sherwell, C. S., & Gilbert, P. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01900-z · Cited by 20
Self-citationPhysiological fractals: visual and statistical evidence across timescales and experimental states
Kim, J. J., Parker, S. L., Henderson, T., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Journal of The Royal Society Interface · doi:10.1098/rsif.2020.0334 · Cited by 15
“Previous research has identified how these CMT exercises can increase HRV [21–23], and also how these interventions are associated with reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as fears of self-compassion [24].”
BackgroundSelf-citationSperandio, K. R., Gutiérrez, D., Kirk, M., Lopez, J., & Mason, W. N. (2021) · The Family Journal · doi:10.1177/10664807211052479 · Cited by 20
“…stress, self-criticism, and substance use (Brooks et al., 2012; López et al., 2018; Neff et al., 2005) and increased resilience, sleep quality, emotional regulation, and adaptive coping skills (Kim et al., 2021; Kirby et al., 2019; Leary et al., 2007; Neff et al., 2005; Scoglio et al., 2018).”
BackgroundCompassion Focused Therapy – What It Is, What It Targets, and the Evidence
Kirby, J. N., & Petrocchi, N. (2023) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_23 · Cited by 19
Self-citationBurnout, compassion for others and fear of compassion: a quantitative study in Iranian nurses
Khanjani, S., Bardezard, Y. A., Foroughi, A., & Yousefi, F. (2021) · Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy · doi:10.47626/2237-6089-2020-0082 · Cited by 18
Compassion-Based Meditation Quality Practice and Its Impact on the Positive Attitudes Toward Others
Navarrete, J., Campos, D., Diego‐Pedro, R., González‐Hernández, E., Herrero, R., Baños, R., & Cebolla, A. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01652-2 · Cited by 18
Sousa, R., Petrocchi, N., Gilbert, P., & Rijo, D. (2022) · Journal of Criminal Justice · doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2022.101970 · Cited by 16
Tri-process model of interpersonal mindfulness: theoretical framework and study protocol
Khoury, B., Manova, V., Adel, L., Dumas, G., Lifshitz, M., Vergara, R. C., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1130959 · Cited by 22
“fear) of support from others had an impact on the effectiveness of such support (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundNeural and Self-Report Markers of Reassurance: A Generalized Additive Modelling Approach
Kim, J. J., Henderson, T., Best, T., Cunnington, R., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.566141 · Cited by 16
Self-citationOne Compassion, Many Means: A Big Two Analysis of Compassionate Behavior
Quaglia, J. T. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01895-7 · Cited by 18
“This may be aimed at misconceptions outside the scientific community that compassion entails submissiveness, as revealed by research on the fears of compassion (Gilbert et al. 2011; Kirby et al. 2019).”
BackgroundMatos, M., McEwan, K., Kanovský, M., Halamová, J., Steindl, S. R., Ferreira, N. B., Linharelhos, M., Rijo, D., Asano, K., Vilas, S. P., et al. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20031845 · Cited by 21
“Resistances to compassion emerge when someone could be compassionate but chooses not to be because they believe it might be too costly for themselves or that there is no point in compassion [41,43].”
BackgroundSelf-citationMendonça, S. E., Dykhuis, E. M., & Jayawickreme, E. (2023) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104373 · Cited by 21
A multi-level meta-analytic review of attachment and fears of compassion
Varley, D., Sherwell, C. S., Fu, M., & Kirby, J. N. (2023) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2023.112477 · Cited by 18
Self-citationRice, S., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z. E., Walton, C. C., Oliffe, J. L., & Ogrodniczuk, J. S. (2021) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114110 · Cited by 14
Liu, X., Shen, Y., Cui, L., Liu, B., & Yang, Y. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02133-4 · Cited by 16
Zhang, S., & McEwan, K. (2023) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050067.2023.2183108 · Cited by 13
“In addition, fear of compassion for others did not account for changes in mental health and posttraumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic (Matos et al., 2021) and did not predict improvements following compassion-focused interventions (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundCompassion-focused therapy with autistic adults
Mason, D., Acland, J., Stark, E. A., Happe, F. G. E., & Spain, D. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1267968 · Cited by 17
Matos, M., Galhardo, A. B., Palmeira, L., Albuquerque, I., Cunha, M. I. V. A., de Lima, M. P., Maratos, F. A., & Gilbert, P. (2024) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-024-02360-3 · Cited by 26
“…that fears of compassion, particularly of self-compassion and of receiving compassion from others, are strongly associated with psychological distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress), and with vulnerability factors, such as self-criticism and shame (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019).”
Kim, J. J., Gerrish, R., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1111/papt.12270 · Cited by 18
Self-citationThe flows of compassion in adolescents as measured by the compassionate engagement and action scales
Cunha, M. I. V. A., Galhardo, A. B., Gilbert, P., Rodrigues, C., & Matos, M. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02097-5 · Cited by 17
“…significant associations with mental health, revealing strong correlations with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress (Gilbert et al., 2011, Kirby et al., 2019), as well as strong correlations with self-criticism and shame (Braehler et al., 2013; Kirby et al., 2019), and insecure…”
BackgroundEpidemiology of compassion: A literature review
Addiss, D. G., Richards, A., Adiabu, S., Horwath, E., Leruth, S., Graham, A. L., & Buesseler, H. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.992705 · Cited by 29
Sousa, R., da Silva, D. R., Petrocchi, N., Gilbert, P., & Rijo, D. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1032011 · Cited by 13
“Due to past experiences and memories, some inhibitors (such as fears of compassion), can prevent the compassionate motivation to be turned-on (8, 32).”
BackgroundKirby, J. N., Sherwell, C. S., Lynn, S., & Moloney-Gibb, D. (2023) · Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools · doi:10.1017/jgc.2023.5 · Cited by 12
“A large body of research indicates individuals can fear compassion (Kirby et al., 2019), which is associated with higher mental health problems.”
BackgroundSelf-citationBennett–Levy, J., Roxburgh, N., Hibner, L., Bala, S., Edwards, S., Lucre, K., Cohen, G., O’Connor, D., Keogh, S., & Gilbert, P. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.568561 · Cited by 14
“For instance, people with strong fears of compassion tend to have poor mental health (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundSelf-Compassion in Psychotherapy: Clinical Integration, Evidence Base, and Mechanisms of Change
Germer, C. K. (2023) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_22 · Cited by 16
Saarinen, A. I. L., Keltikangas‐Järvinen, L., Dobewall, H., Ahola‐Olli, A., Salmi, M., Lehtimäki, T. J., Raitakari, O. T., Jalkanen, S., & Hintsanen, M. (2021) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22070 · Cited by 14
“depression) may not have fears for providing compassion for others but, rather, they are more likely to have fears in receiving compassion from others (Kirby et al., 2019).”
BackgroundValidation of the Fears of Compassion Scale in a Chinese Cultural Context
Guo, M., Wang, J., Day, J. J., & Kirby, J. N. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01534-z · Cited by 12
Self-citationSantos, L., Pinheiro, M. D. R., & Rijo, D. (2023) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106122 · Cited by 18
Psychometric properties of the German version of the fears of compassion scales
Biermann, M., Bohus, M., Gilbert, P., Vonderlin, R., Cornelisse, S., Osen, B., Graser, J., Brüne, M., Ebert, A., Lyssenko, L., et al. (2020) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2496 · Cited by 14
“…and receiving compassion is physiologically linked to adaptive heart rate variability (e.g., Cosley, McCoy, Saslow, & Epel, 2010; Kim et al., 2020; Kirby et al., 2017; Matos et al., 2017; Petrocchi, Ottaviani, & Couyoumdjian, 2017; Rockliff, Gilbert, McEwan, Lightman, & Glover, 2008), blood…”
Luo, X., Shen, Y., Sun, L., Qi, X., Hong, J., Wang, Y., Che, X., & Lei, Y. (2024) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.117 · Cited by 10
Brophy, K., Emery, M., MacDonald, C., Côté, C. I., & Körner, A. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0305776 · Cited by 10
Lindsey, S., Hiskey, S., Irons, C., & Andrews, L. (2022) · OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2203039 · Cited by 10
Self-Compassion in Trauma Treatment
Braehler, C. (2023) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_20 · Cited by 10
Walton, C. C., Kirby, J. N., McKenzie, S., Gao, C. X., Purcell, R., Rice, S., & Osborne, M. S. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512114 · Cited by 15
“In addition, fears of SC are associated with worse outcomes relating to mental health (Kirby et al., 2019).”
Self-citationMerritt, O. A., & Purdon, C. (2021) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12313 · Cited by 10
Amari, N., Martin, T., Mahoney, A., Peacock, S., Stewart, J., & Alford, E. A. (2022) · Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy · doi:10.1007/s10879-022-09573-4 · Cited by 10
Zhang, S., & Boardley, I. D. (2022) · Performance Enhancement & Health · doi:10.1016/j.peh.2022.100243 · Cited by 10
Fears and Resistances to Mindfulness: Development of a Self-Report Scale
Gilbert, P., Basran, J. K., Plowright, P., Matos, M., Kirby, J. N., & Petrocchi, N. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02171-y · Cited by 10
“…emotions (feeling and expressing; Gilbert et al., 2014a); fears of happiness (Gilbert et al., 2014a, b, c) and fears, blocks, and resistances to the flows of compassion (Gilbert et al., 2011; Kirby et al., 2019), we sought to develop a fears, blocks and resistances (FBRs) of mindfulness scale.”
BackgroundMethodSelf-citationSelf‐compassion and related factors in severe mental illness: A scoping review
Kurebayashi, Y., & Sugimoto, H. (2022) · Perspectives In Psychiatric Care · doi:10.1111/ppc.13017 · Cited by 10
Fears of compassion scales in psychosis: confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties
Carvalho, D., Marques, C., Pinto, A. M., Martins, M. J., Leal, I., & Castilho, P. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01979-y · Cited by 9
Self-Compassion, Personal Improvement, and Motivation
Ortiz, A., Goold, A. R., & Zhang, J. W. (2023) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_12 · Cited by 9
Metadata
- Authors
- Kirby, J. N., Day, J., & Sagar, V.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Kirby, James N.
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology Review
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-06
- Volume
- 70
- Pages
- 26-39
- ISSN
- 0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2922505176
- Cited by
- 232
- References
- 90
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 3.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- self-compassion, compassion for others, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, well-being, shame, self-criticism, psychological vulnerability
- MeSH terms
- Psychological Distress, Anxiety, Depression, Empathy, Fear, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Self Concept, Shame, Social Behavior
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