7/29/2019 Being Kind in Close Relationships Reduces Depression

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Being Kind in Close RelationshipsReduces Depression

AbstractThere has been increasing interest in the benefits of

being kind, which include improved self-esteem,

happiness, and greater overall mental-health.

Practicing kindness has also been shown to

strengthen relationships and increase social

support, both of which can inoculate individuals

from emotional distress and depression. The

current study examined the effects of a kindness

exercise within close relationships. Participants

were recruited online and were randomly assigned

to one of two conditions. Participants in the

kindness condition performed a kind, loving gesturetowards someone close, while participants in the

control condition simply wrote about an interaction

they had with someone close. Multilevel modeling

revealed that the kindness intervention was

associated with significant decreases in depressive

symptoms when compared to the control condition,

with gains that were maintained at the two month

follow-up. These results suggest that practicing

kindness within the context of a close relationship

can lead to sustained improvements in depression.

Introduction Kindness, described as the inclination to be kind

and compassionate towards others, has been

identified in the positive psychology literature as a

globally-valued strength of character (Peterson &

Seligman, 2004). Practicing kindness has been

shown to improve self-esteem and increase positive

moods (Krause & Shaw, 2000; Mongrain, Chin, &

Shapira, 2010; Simmons, 1991).

Performing kind acts has the potential to benefitdepression. Disruptions in ones interpersonal

context are linked to the occurrence and

maintenance of depression (Joiner, Coyne, &

Blalock, 1999). Practicing compassion within

relationships has been shown to produce supportive

interpersonal environments and strengthen

relationships (Crocker & Canevello, 2008), which

could prevent or repair dysfunctional relationship

dynamics.

Conclusions Practicing kindness within close relationships can decrease

depression, with gains up to two months following the

intervention.

Cultivating close relationships is important for depressed

individuals, whose symptoms are often exacerbated or maintained

by dysfunctional interpersonal contexts. This type of online intervention offers an effective, accessible, and

convenient alternative to more traditional methods of delivery.

Method

Participants:Participants were recruited online worldwide (N= 364) and wererequired to be over the age of 18 and have daily access to the

Internet. The mean age of participants was 32.34 (SD = 11.19)

and 66% were female. Participants presented with a mean

baseline score of 22.1 (SD = 13.15) on the Centre for

Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff,

1977), indicating symptoms of clinical significance.

Procedure: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions.

Participants in the kindness condition (n= 172) performed a kindact for someone they were close with and described the

interaction they had.

Participants in the control condition (n= 192) described aninteraction they had with someone close that day.

These exercises were repeated every second day for three weeks

with participants completing their exercises online. Participants

completed the CES-D immediately prior to the exercise period, at

post-test three weeks later, and at one and two month follow-ups.

Data analysis:Multilevel modeling (MLM) was used to assess the effect of the

kindness condition on depression and to determine if changes in

depression were sustained over time. MLM was chosen due to thehigh level of attrition and the nested structure of the data.

Results

HypothesisPracticing kindness within the context of close

relationships should strengthen these

relationships and enhance social support, as

well as foster the character strength of

kindness. Consequently, it is expected that

participants in the kindness condition will see

significant decreases in depressive symptoms

in comparison to those in the control condition.

Caroline Barnes, B.A.Myriam Mongrain, Ph.D.

Ryan Barnhart, M.A.

Participants in the kindness condition saw a

significant decrease in depressive

symptoms due to the kindness intervention

when compared to the control condition

(Estimate = -.33, SE= .10, z= -2.40,p= .02).

These decreases in depressive symptoms

were maintained over time up to the two

month follow-up (Estimate = -.08, SE= .04,z= -2.00, p= .04).

Crocker, J., & Canevello, A. (2008). Creating and undermining social support in communal relationships: The role of compassionate and self-image goals.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 555-575.

Joiner, T., Coyne, J. C., & Blalock, J. (1999). In Joiner T., Coyne J. C. (Eds.), On the interpersonal nature of depression: Overview and synthesis. American

Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Krause, N., & Shaw, B.A. (2000). Giving social support to others, socioeconomic status, and changes in self-esteem in late life. Journals of Gerontology:

Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 55B, S323-333.

Mongrain, M., Chin, J. & Shapira, L. B. (2010). Practicing compassion increases happiness and self-esteem. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 963-981.

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification. APAPress: Washington, DC.

Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D Scale: Aself-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.