Replication: Self-Compassion and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviours in Albertan University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/eureka28760Keywords:
Self-compassion, health, health-behaviours, COVID-19, University studentsAbstract
Self-compassion as a predictor for health-promoting behaviours has been the subject of several research studies. Self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness have been repeatedly positively correlated with health-promoting behaviours in individuals, such as eating well and doing physical activity (Gedik, 2019; Holden et al., 2020). We hypothesized that the positive components of self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) would positively correlate with health-promoting behaviours. In an attempt to replicate Gedik’s (2019) study, researchers recruited 294 Albertan post-secondary students to respond to an online-based questionnaire. Participants filled out both the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) (Neff, 2003b) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (Walker et al., 1995). Findings revealed that, unlike Gedik (2019), isolating behaviours such as feeling cut-off from the world are indicative of improved stress management. Therefore, Gedik’s (2019) results were not replicated. This research’s implications are essential when considering the factorial breakdown of self-compassion and how the factorial relationships to health behaviours are affected by varying populations and contexts. Specifically, the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions must be considered when interpreting the results presented in this current study.
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