Understanding and Utilization of Self-Compassion in Emotionally Demanding Research: A Qualitative Researcher Perspective

Emotionally demanding research (EDR) is a type of research that requires significant mental, emotional, and/or physical resources, which in turn can negatively impact a researcher's holistic well-being. While some recommendations have been made to assist researchers conducting EDR (e.g., managing time between interviews), self-compassion has yet to be thoroughly explored as a strategy for researchers conducting EDR. In this study, we examined researchers’ understanding and use of self-compassion within EDR. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 qualitative researchers who had conducted or were conducting EDR. Data was analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Findings showed individuals struggled to use self-compassion when conducting EDR. Many could not define self-compassion and demonstrated a limited understanding of self-compassion’s core components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Moreover, most were uncertain about the impact of self-compassion in EDR. Theoretical implications and practical applications are discussed.