Psychology Research and Behavior Management Dovepress open access to scientific and medical research Open Access Full Text Article ORIGINAL RESEARCH Relation of the Psychological Constructs of Resilience, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion on the Perception of Physical and Mental Health This article was published in the following Dove Press journal: Psychology Research and Behavior Management – Ángela Asensio-Martínez1 3 Purpose: Health factors that enhance an individual’s ability to perceive and maintain health – Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez1 3 and well-being are referred to as “health assets”. Of these assets, resilience, mindfulness and Jesús Montero-Marín1,2 self-compassion are considered to be of special importance. The objective of this study was – Bárbara Masluk 1 3 to analyze the association between these psychological constructs on the perception of Ricardo Fueyo-Díaz2,3 physical and mental health in a general population. – Patients and methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted Santiago Gascón-Santos 1 3 with 845 participating subjects. The outcome variable was the individual´s perception of Francisco Gudé 1,4 1,5 physical and mental health, measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. The independent Arturo Gónzalez-Quintela variables were: sociodemographic variables, medical information, physical activity perfor- 1,2,6 Javier García-Campayo mance (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire), tobacco and alcohol con- 1,2,6 Rosa Magallón-Botaya sumption, anxiety and/or depression (using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale), 1Research Network on Preventive resilience (using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), mindfulness (with the Five Facets Activities and Health Promotion of Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form) and self-compassion (using the Self-compassion (RedIAPP), Zaragoza 50009, Spain; 2Health Research Institute of Aragon, scale-short form). A correlation analysis, simple linear regression and multiple linear regres- Zaragoza 50009, Spain; 3Department of sion were carried out, controlling for the influence of the distinct independent variables. Psychology and Sociology, University of Results: The constructs of resilience, mindfulness and self-compassion are significant, in the Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50005, Spain; 4Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Santiago de perception of both physical and mental health. Other factors appearing in the multiple Compostela Hospital, Santiago de regression are gender, age, educational level, physical activity and tobacco consumption, in Compostela 15706, Spain; a positive or negative sense. 5Departamento de Medicina Interna, Santiago de Compostela Hospital, Conclusion: The study of these associations is fundamental for the understanding of Santiago de Compostela 15706, Spain; underlying regulation processes of healthy lifestyles in the general population. 6Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Keywords: perception of physical and mental health, resilience, mindfulness, self- Dermatology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain compassion Introduction Establishing a definition for the concept of complete and globally accepted health is clearly a challenge since societal changes have modified the concept of health and wellbeing over recent decades based on current knowledge, beliefs, and values. The 1946 WHO definition, which considers health to be the state of physical, mental, 1 Correspondence: Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez and social wellbeing and not only the absence of disease or infirmity, began the Department of Psychology and Sociology, movement of change towards a psychological, multifaceted, and holistic concep- University of Zaragoza, Violante de Hungria 2,3 23, Zaragoza 50009, Spain tualization of health that is not exclusively biological. Tel +34 876554547 Based on the concept of health, its determinants have been studied. These health Fax +34 976 254006 Email [email protected] determinants may be defined as the set of personal and social, economic and submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com Psychology Research and Behavior Management 2019:12 1155–1166 1155 DovePress © 2019 Asensio-Martínez et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress. – http://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S225169 com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Asensio-Martínez et al Dovepress environmental factors that determine the state of health of others, and as an attempt to alleviate it. It has been studied in individuals or populations.4 One of the most widely used terms of receiving the compassion of others, and as compas- models for the analysis of these health determinants was sion for oneself (self-compassion).50 Self-compassion created by Dahlgren and Whitehead5 and it presents the involves offering oneself the same care, comfort, and seren- main determinants of health as a range of concentric hierarch- ity that one naturally gives to a loved one who is suffering. ical layers in which each of the outer layers determines the Self-compassion and compassion for others are relevant in successive central layers. Here, individuals are located, with the field of emotional development, specifically in coping modifiable markers such as age, gender, and genetic predis- and emotional regulation. Instead of substituting negative position, while remaining sensitive to the influence and inter- thoughts for positive ones, new emotions are generated that actions (positive or negative) of a series of modifiable factors. accept the negative, permitting a clearer understanding of the Of these factors, those that enhance the ability of the indivi- situation, and implementation of effective and appropriate dual, community and population to perceive and maintain actions.10 Various studies have analyzed the efficacy of self- health and wellbeing are defined as “Health Assets”, according compassion in the improvement of different aspects of health 6 to the theory of salutogenesis. These factors may include and physical and mental diseases,51,52 including behaviors 7,8 9 resilience, conscious attention or mindfulness, and self- that promote health,53 quality of life,54 self-esteem,55,56 and 10 compassion. Resilience has been studied as a health well-being.57 Compassion is considered to be a trainable skill 7,11–13 asset, and diverse studies have specified its action that facilitates change.58 14,15 mechanism which is related to stress management. The study of the relation of these psychological con- Mindfulness and self-compassion, which may also be consid- structs on the perception of physical and mental health has 16 ered health assets, are based on stress management. not been examined in depth in a non-clinical population, but Furthermore, diverse studies have described a link between the main interest when studying these psychological con- 17,18 resilience, mindfulness and self-compassion. structs and their relationship with perception of physical fi Resilience may be de ned as the process of overcom- and mental health lies in their relation with stress ing the negative effects of risk exposure, successful coping management,14–16 andcoping,basedonanincreaseinposi- with traumatic experiences, and avoiding negative trajec- tive emotions,59,60 and, therefore, their relationship with 19 tories associated with risk. Health resilience has been health-promoting behaviors. It should be noted that these conceptualized as the ability to maintain good health constructs are trainable,13,58,61 and thereby, may be relevant 7,8 amidst great adversity. Research studies carried out on when developing lifestyle modification programs.62 20–27 patients with various pathologies, both physical and Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the 28–32 mental have demonstrated the positive effects of resi- relationship of psychological constructs such as resilience, lience in the prevention, treatment, and quality of life. mindfulness, and self-compassion on the perception of phy- The concept of mindfulness refers to attention or sical and mental health in the general population. awareness and being present.33 In the current psychology, mindfulness is considered a psychological resource to improve awareness, and to effectively respond to mental Materials and Methods processes that contribute to psycho-emotional stress and Design: Cross-Sectional Study maladaptive behaviors.9 Sternberg34 interprets mindful- Sample and Sample Size ness as a cognitive style, rather than a personality trait or This study was conducted in the municipality of A Estrada, skill. It is considered to be a trainable skill, with this Galicia (Spain), with an adult population (18 years and older) training being associated with the regulation of “top- of 18,897 residents at the onset of the study in 2012. The down” emotions over the short term, and “bottom-up” inclusion criteria were: 1) population aged 18 years and emotions over the long term.35 Ample scientific evidence older; 2) proficiency in spoken Spanish or ability to commu- has confirmed the efficacy of various therapies that are nicate; 3) provide