title: Self-compassion weakens the association between hot flushes and night sweats and daily life functioning and depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some women find hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) to interfere more in daily life and mood than others. Psychological resources may help to explain these individual differences. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of self-compassion, defined as healthy way of relating toward the self when dealing with difficult experiences, as a potential moderator of the relationship between HFNS and daily life activities, which in turn influences symptoms of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study using questionnaire data from 206 women aged 40-60 who were currently experiencing hot flushes and/or night sweats. Path analysis was used to model relationships among menopausal factors (HFNS frequency and daily interference ratings), self-compassion and mood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hot flush interference in daily activities and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, women experienced 4.02 HFNS per day, and HFNS frequency was moderately correlated with interference ratings (r=0.38). In the path analytic model, self-compassion made significant direct contribution to hot flush interference ratings (β=-0.37) and symptoms of depression (β=-0.42), and higher self-compassion was associated with lower interference and depressive symptoms. Self-compassion also moderated the relationship between HFNS frequency and hot flush interference. Higher self-compassion was associated with weaker effects of HFNS frequency on daily interference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-compassion may weaken the association between HFNS and daily life functioning, which in turn, could lead to less HFNS-related mood problems. These findings imply that self-compassion may be a resilience factor to help women manage hot flushes and night sweats.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Electronic address: lbrown@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital, Locked Bag 300, Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Valerie M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital, Locked Bag 300, Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Building 17, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, VIC 3800, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Level 1 North, Main Block, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.affiliation: Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital, Locked Bag 300, Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Level 1 North, Main Block, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Judd
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013542:Sweat; D013546:Sweating
keywords: Hot flushes; Menopause; Midlife; Night sweats; Self-compassion; Well-being