Fears of happiness and compassion in relationship with depression, alexithymia, and attachment security in a depressed sample.
Journal article
Authors | Gilbert, Paul, McEwan, Kirsten, Catarino, Francisca, Baião, Rita and Palmeira, Lara |
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Abstract | Objectives In a non-clinical population, fears of compassion and fear of happiness have both been found to be highly correlated with alexithymia and depression. This study sought to explore these processes and their links with adult attachment and social safeness and pleasure in a depressed group. Method A total of 52 participants suffering from moderate to severe depression completed measures of fears of happiness, compassion from others and for self, in addition to measures of alexithymia, attachment, social safeness, and depression, anxiety, and stress. Results Fears of compassion and happiness were highly correlated with alexithymia, adult attachment, and depression, anxiety, and stress. Fear of happiness was found to be the best predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas fear of compassion from others was the best predictor of adult attachment. A path analysis showed that fears of positive emotion fully mediate the link between alexithymia and depression. This clinical sample had higher mean scores in fears of positive emotions, alexithymia, and depression, anxiety, and stress than a previously studied student sample. Conclusions This study adds to the evidence that fears of positive emotions are important features of mental health difficulties. Unaddressed, these fears can block positive emotions and may lead to emotional avoidance of positive affect thus contributing as blocks to successful therapy. Therapies for depression may therefore profitably assess and desensitize the fear of positive emotions. Practitioner points Many therapies focus on reducing negative affect and increasing positive affect. However, clinicians should be aware that positive emotions can be feared: in this clinical sample, depression is strongly associated with fear of happiness and fears of compassion. If clients fear happiness and compassion, they may resist or have difficulties in engaging in activities which evoke positive affect. If not addressed these fears may become blocks to therapy. Fears of different types of positive affect may require different interventions. |
Objectives Method Results Conclusions Practitioner points | |
Keywords | Compassion; Happiness; Fears; Alexithymia; Attachment security; Depression |
Year | 2013 |
Journal | British Journal of Clinical Psychology |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 01446657 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12037 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622298 |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
hdl:10545/622298 | |
Publication dates | 27 Nov 2013 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 13 Mar 2018, 14:15 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to British Journal of Clinical Psychology |
Contributors | University of Derby, University of Coimbra, Mental Health Research Unit; Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Derby UK, Mental Health Research Unit; Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Derby UK, Mental Health Research Unit; Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Derby UK, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences; University of Coimbra; Portugal and Cognitive and Behavioural Research Centre (CINEICC); University of Coimbra; Portugal |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/92679/fears-of-happiness-and-compassion-in-relationship-with-depression-alexithymia-and-attachment-security-in-a-depressed-sample
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