Shine, Nicola (2010) The Relationship Between Authenticity, Self Compassion, Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness, and Adult Resilience. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to obtain a better understanding of the special qualities, experiences, and instigating motivational forces that explain the capacity of resilient individuals to adapt to adversity. Limited empirical research has been undertaken to date in order to identify how authenticity, self-compassion, and early memories of warmth and safeness are associated with resilience. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship of the dimensions of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003a)—Self-kindness, Self-judgement, Common Humanity, Isolation, Mindfulness, and Over-identification—the dimensions of the Authenticity Scale (AS; Wood, Linley, Maltby, Baliousis, & Joseph, 2008)—Authentic Living, Accepting External Influence, and Self-alienation—and the Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness Scale (EMWSS; Richter, Gilbert, & McEwan, 2009) and resilience as measured by the abbreviated version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10; Campbell-Sills & Stein, 2007). It was hypothesised that higher reported levels of authenticity, self-compassion, and early memories of warmth and safeness would be associated with higher reported levels of resilience. A heterogenous convenience sample of adults was recruited from mainland state capitals and various regional centres in Australia. Two hundred and thirty one of the 298 returned questionnaires were retained for further analysis in this study. An initial hierarchical regression analysis was conducted, controlling for any effect of age or gender. The result of this analysis indicated that early memories of warmth and safeness predicted higher levels of resilience, but particular dimensions of higher levels of authenticity (authentic living) and self-compassion (self-kindness, mindfulness, isolation, and overidentification) more strongly predicted higher levels of resilience. Mediation analyses performed in order to explore further the effect that the relationship between authentic living, mindfulness, and self-kindness revealed support to both mindfulness and self-kindness as partial mediators of the effect of authentic living on resilience. The findings from the present study confirm and clarify previous research. Practical implications include the potential importance of identifying particular developmental circumstances which prompt recall of warmth and safety and various dimensions of self-compassion and authenticity as a potent pathway to resilience, and highlight the utility of modes of enhancing mindfulness such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in combination with a person-centre approach, to this end. Future longitudinal research should also seek to establish the causal relationships that exist between developmental conditions leading to enhanced attachment, authenticity and self-compassion, and their impact on resilience.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Thompson, Murray |
| Qualification: | Master of Psychology (Clinical) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2026 02:00 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2026 02:00 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52757 |
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