The Role of Self-Compassion in the General Health and Academic Achievement of the Nursing and Midwifery Students in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014

Abstract

ntroduction: In light of the importance of students’ self-compassion and its effect on students in medical education, the purpose of the present research was examining the role of self-compassion regarding public health and academic achievement of students of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The population in this study was bachelor’s-degree students of the Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014. The total sample size was specified as 250 people based on ratio stratified sampling method using Krejcie and Morgan table. Neff’s self-compassion scale and general health questionnaire (GHQ) were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 as well as MANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression statistical tests. Results: The findings of this research demonstrated significant differences, generally observed between different dimensions of self-compassion in female and male students (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive relationship in self-kindness and mindfulness components with students’ public health, and there was a significant negative relationship in self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification components with students’ general health (P < 0.01). The self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, mindfulness, and over-identification components explained a total of 0.422% of the public health score variance, and were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The research demonstrated that there was a relationship between students’ self-compassion, public health, and academic achievement; therefore, it is suggested that more attention should be pointed to improvement of students’ self-compassion and academic achievement conditions by performing self-compassion training courses.