Self-Compassion Demonstrating a Dual Relationship with Pain Dependent on High-Frequency Heart Rate Variability

Abstract EN

One previous study indicated the significance of trait self-compassion in psychological well-being and adjustment in people with chronic pain.

Higher-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) was found to be closely associated with self-compassion and pain coping.

The current study was therefore designed to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and experimental pain as well as the impact of HF-HRV.

Sixty healthy participants provided self-reported self-compassion and underwent a cold pain protocol during which HF-HRV was evaluated.

Results demonstrated a dual relationship between self-compassion and pain, dependent on the level of HF-HRV during pain exposure.

Specifically, self-compassion was associated with lower pain in the condition of higher HF-HRV, while there was an inverse relationship between self-compassion and pain when HF-HRV was lower.

Our data indicate the significance of HF-HRV in moderating the association between self-compassion and experimental pain.