Self-Compassion, Body Image and Depressive Symptoms among Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic auto-immune disease that affects physical and psychological wellbeing of patients, which in turn altering body image, increasing level of depression and self-compassion negatively correlated with these effects. Aim of the study: Assess the relation between self-compassion, body image and depressive symptoms among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Study design: This study utilized a descriptive-correlational design. Study setting: The study was conducted at rheumatology department of Benha university hospital, which is affiliated to the ministry of higher education in Benha City, Qalyubia Governorate. Subjects: A convenience sample of 100 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Tools for data collection: A structured Interview Questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and clinical data of the studied sample, Self-Compassion Scale, Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed that more than half of the studied patients had a moderate level of self-compassion, more than half had moderate level of body image disturbance, while half of them had moderately severe level of depression. Conclusion: There was a highly statistically significant negative correlation between total self-compassion, total body image disturbance and total severity of depression, while there was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total body image disturbance and total depressive symptoms. Recommendation: Psycho-educational intervention programs targeting beliefs, self-compassion and perception of body image among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can reduce depressive symptoms.