A qualitative exploration of self-concept and self-compassion in people living with endometriosis

The current study explores the influence of endometriosis on an individual’s self-concept and the potential applicability of self-compassion in addressing alterations to self-concept. Using a qualitative deductive template analysis methodology, 157 written reflections were reviewed to gain an understanding of how people living with endometriosis view themselves or their body in the face of the diagnosis. The respondents’ reflections indicated that endometriosis may influence self-concept across the domains of the personal, physical, and social self. Utilising Neff’s (2003) components of self-compassion (self-kindness/self-judgement, common humanity/isolation, mindfulness/overidentification), a series of themes emerged, with a higher number of reflections noted for each of the negative components of self-compassion compared to their positive counterpart. Themes reflecting the positive components of self-compassion for individuals living with endometriosis included self-acceptance, consideration of needs, strength and resilience, shared human experience, acceptance by others, acceptance of the present moment, and practical acceptance. Themes that reflected the negative components of self-compassion for individuals living with endometriosis included feelings of inadequacy, self-blame, negating the needs of self, ‘comparison game’, loneliness, withdrawal and avoidance, self-reliance, feeling misunderstood and judged by others, feeling like a burden, lack of shared community, lack of knowledge and education, attachment to the experience of endometriosis, attachment to negative thoughts and emotions, and emotional suppression and numbing. These findings indicate that the components of self-compassion therapy may be of relevance in addressing the alterations to self-concept experience by individuals living with endometriosis.