Exploring the association between Interoceptive Awareness, Self-Compassion and Emotional Regulation

Abstract

Although the benefits of adaptive emotional regulation have been extensively researched, the mechanisms behind this are poorly understood. As emotional regulation plays an important role in the onset and maintenance of disturbances associated with a range of psychopathologies, understanding the factors facilitating greater emotional regulation will be beneficial for interventions and mental health promotion in the future. Research is yet to examine the relationship between interoceptive awareness and self-compassion as potential intervention tools for reducing difficulties in emotional regulation. Our aim was to address the gap in the literature by investigating whether self-compassion influences the relationship between interoceptive awareness and emotional regulation. We hypothesised there would be a significant relationship between interoceptive awareness and self-compassion. Two-hundred-and-thirty-two adult participants (178 female, 51 male) completed an online survey measuring interoceptive awareness, self-compassion and emotion regulation difficulties. Results indicated interoceptive awareness was positively associated with self-compassion and negatively associated with emotion regulation difficulties, self-compassion was also negatively associated with difficulties in emotion regulation. Regression analysis found self-compassion mediated the relationship between interoceptive awareness and emotional regulation. Therefore, our findings indicate facilitation of self-compassion may help with reducing the impact of poor interoception on emotional regulation and could have beneficial implications for future therapies.