Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Keywords

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, Relationships, Physical Activity

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

In recent years, self-compassion and mindfulness have become topics of great interest in Western psychology. Due to modern society’s decreasing happiness, it is imperative to research ways the population can increase their well-being in order to lead more meaningful, happier lives. Mindfulness (the acceptance and non-evaluative awareness of the present), self-compassion (directing compassion inward), and physical activity may be the key. It was hypothesized that there are positive correlations between (1) self-compassion and mindfulness, (2) physical activity and mindfulness, and (3) physical activity and self-compassion. In this study, participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), modified Self-Compassion Scale –Short Form (SCS-SF), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and basic demographic information. The results indicated: (1) self-compassion and mindfulness were significantly positively correlated, (2) physical activity and mindfulness were not significantly correlated, and (3) physical activity and self-compassion were not significantly correlated. Then, these relationships were examined using a partial correlation to explore the relationships controlling for the effects of well-being. The correlation between self-compassion and mindfulness remained significant but decreased in strength. When controlling for the effects of well-being, the relationship between physical activity and mindfulness still showed no significance. Likewise, when controlling for the effects of well-being, the relationship between physical activity and self-compassion still showed no significance. This means that self-compassion and mindfulness demonstrated a correlation, whereas neither self-compassion nor mindfulness demonstrated a correlation with physical activity.

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