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Purpose: Practising compassion increases well‐being and reduces depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among clinical and non‐clinical populations. There is a rapid increase in compassion‐based interventions within the past two decades. However, the reviews are limited to predominantly Western cultures. Therefore, this meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the literature attempting to promote and increase compassion in Asian communities. Method: Eight randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 2016 to 2021 were included in the meta‐analysis with data from 1012 participants across Thailand, Japan, China and Hong Kong. Effect sizes were calculated to test the efficacy of the compassion‐based interventions on the self‐compassion outcome. Intervention efficacy was tested by comparing the intervention groups against control groups (wait‐list control and active control groups) at pre‐ and post‐interventions. Results: Significant between‐group differences in change scores were found on self‐report measures of self‐compassion with large effect sizes in interventions with wait‐list control groups (d =.86) and small effect sizes in interventions with active‐control groups (d =.19). Conclusions: Although compassion‐based interventions are heterogeneous in nature and limited in scope, there is promising evidence of improving self‐compassion in Asian communities. This supports for the cross‐cultural applicability of compassion‐based interventions. However, research within the Asian context is limited and at an infancy stage, signifying the importance of conducting further compassion‐based interventions in clinical and non‐clinical groups living in the Asian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified that spiritual beliefs contribute to psychological well-being (PWB) in older people, but limited research has considered the effects of spirituality on PWB when physical health deteriorates and people become frail. We recruited 233 British participants from warden-controlled retirement housing to complete interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results showed that, after we controlled for marital status, age, education, other health problems, and gender, degree of frailty had a negative effect on PWB. Spirituality was also a significant predictor of PWB and moderated the negative effects of frailty on PWB. Therefore, this study suggests that spirituality is a resource in maintaining PWB, and that the use of this resource is more significant for individuals with greater levels of frailty.

Background: Practising compassion has shown to increase well-being and reduce distress in people across cultures. However, very little research has explored cultural differences in different facets of compassion with a dearth of research evident especially in the Asian context. Several inhibitors and facilitators of compassion have been identified although the nuances of cultural differences of these remain unexploited. This study aimed to discover cross-cultural similarities and differences of the levels of compassion, facilitators and inhibitors of compassion between Sri Lankan and UK people. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based quantitative research was conducted among 149 Sri Lankan and 300 UK participants. Individual predictors (such as fears of compassion, self-reassurance, external shame, social safeness and pleasure, depression and anxiety) were also explored in relation to compassion, compassion to others, and compassion from others in each group. Results: The results indicated that Sri Lankan participants were more self-reassured and self-compassionate and self-identifying as a Buddhist predicted higher self-compassion, when compared to UK participants. However, Sri Lankan participants reported higher levels of external shame and fear of compassion not just towards themselves, but also towards and from others, indicating difficulty in engaging compassionately with others. In contrast, UK participants reported higher social safeness, indicating that they were more likely to feel safe and soothed by the society than the Sri Lankan participants. Conclusions: Society plays a pivotal role in shaping one's experiences of compassion. This study suggests that specific cultural and social factors should be considered when implementing Western compassionate approaches to non-Western settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]