Relation of the Psychological Constructs of Resilience, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion on the Perception of Physical and Mental Health

Abstract

Ángela Asensio-Martínez,1–3 Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez,1–3 Jesús Montero-Marín,1,2 Bárbara Masluk,1–3 Ricardo Fueyo-Díaz,2,3 Santiago Gascón-Santos,1–3 Francisco Gudé,1,4 Arturo Gónzalez-Quintela,1,5 Javier García-Campayo,1,2,6,6 Rosa Magallón-Botaya1,2,6,6 1Research Network on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (RedIAPP), Zaragoza 50009, Spain; 2Health Research Institute of Aragon, Zaragoza 50009, Spain; 3Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50005, Spain; 4Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Santiago de Compostela Hospital, Santiago de Compostela 15706, Spain; 5Departamento de Medicina Interna, Santiago de Compostela Hospital, Santiago de Compostela 15706, Spain; 6Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, SpainCorrespondence: Bárbara Oliván-BlázquezDepartment of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Violante de Hungria 23, Zaragoza 50009, SpainTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Health factors that enhance an individual’s ability to perceive and maintain health and well-being are referred to as “health assets”. Of these assets, resilience, mindfulness and self-compassion are considered to be of special importance. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between these psychological constructs on the perception of physical and mental health in a general population.Patients and methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 845 participating subjects. The outcome variable was the individual´s perception of physical and mental health, measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. The independent variables were: sociodemographic variables, medical information, physical activity performance (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire), tobacco and alcohol consumption, anxiety and/or depression (using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale), resilience (using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), mindfulness (with the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form) and self-compassion (using the Self-compassion scale-short form). A correlation analysis, simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were carried out, controlling for the influence of the distinct independent variables.Results: The constructs of resilience, mindfulness and self-compassion are significant, in the perception of both physical and mental health. Other factors appearing in the multiple regression are gender, age, educational level, physical activity and tobacco consumption, in a positive or negative sense.Conclusion: The study of these associations is fundamental for the understanding of underlying regulation processes of healthy lifestyles in the general population.Keywords: perception of physical and mental health, resilience, mindfulness, self-compassion

Keywords

• perception of physical and mental health
• resilience
• mindfulness
• self-compassion.