Role of Self–Compassion and Distress Tolerance in the Social Health of Female Household Heads

The vulnerability of female household heads at individual and social levels leads to a decline in their social health. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the role of self–compassion and distress tolerance in the social health of female household heads.

The present study was a descriptive correlational research. The statistical population of the study consisted of all female household heads supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in 2019 in Baharestan County. 291 subjects were selected by available sampling using the Morgan table. The tools used to collect Data were Simon and Gaher's Distress Tolerance Scale (2005), Self–Compassion Scale – Short Form (SCS–SF) (2003), and Keyes Social Health Questionnaire (2004). To anaylze data, SPSS software version 21 and descriptive statistical methods such as mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation test and multiple linear regression) were used by the step–by–step method, and the significance level was considered at 0.05.

The means and standard deviations of compassion, distress tolerance and social health were, 16.78±1.57, 13.4±1.27, and 18.41±2.29, respectively. There were direct and significant relationships between self–compassion and social well–being (r=0.627, p<0.001) and between distress tolerance and social well–being (r=0.545, p<0.001). Self–compassion (r=0.603, p<0001) and distress tolerance (r=0.517 and p<0.001) were significantly able to predict social health.

The promotion of self–compassion and tolerance in distress will promote the social health of women household heads. Therefore, improving their health status should be considered by conducting training courses or workshops on self–compassion and distress tolerance for these individuals.