Abstract
Objectives
This experience sampling study examined the roles of trait self-compassion in everyday self-control. Specifically, this study examined whether trait self-compassion influences people’s self-efficacy in handling difficult self-control demands, and subsequently, their self-control success.
Method
The participants were asked to respond to five random signals per day for seven consecutive days. When responding to each signal, they first indicated if they had exerted self-control over the past 30 min and, if yes, reported their momentary self-control experiences such as perceived difficulty, self-efficacy, and success. Trait self-compassion was measured 1 week before the experience sampling phase. A total of 1725 self-control episodes from 115 college students were analyzed.
Results
No main effects of trait self-compassion on self-control difficulty, self-efficacy, and success were observed. Nevertheless, trait self-compassion interacted with perceived difficulty in predicting self-efficacy. Specifically, perceived difficulty was associated with reduced self-efficacy, only among individuals low in trait self-compassion.
Conclusions
Self-compassionate people appeared to be better at protecting self-efficacy when dealing with difficult self-control tasks. The findings provide nuanced views on how trait self-compassion may be beneficial to self-control in everyday life.
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Data Availability
The data analyzed in the current study are available at the Open Science Framework (http://osf.io/dp8e6/).
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Funding
The present study was supported by the Faculty Development Scheme of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (project no. UGC/FDS15/H03/16).
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TC designed and executed the study, performed the data analysis, and wrote the paper. CH collaborated in the design of the study and the editing of the final manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
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This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Board of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University.
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Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Chow, T.S., Hui, C.M. How Does Trait Self-Compassion Benefit Self-Control in Daily Life? An Experience Sampling Study. Mindfulness 12, 162–169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01509-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01509-0