Epidemiology of resilience and epidemiology of compassion: Common ground?

Abstract

Compassion has received limited attention in epidemiological research despite its relevance as a social norm and its potential for fostering human flourishing. This conceptual review illustrates how conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches from the epidemiology of resilience can inform the emerging field of epidemiology of compassion. Similar to resilience, compassion is often engendered by environmental stimuli such as suffering and adversity and is shaped by individual traits, cultural norms, and contextual factors. Drawing from resilience literature, we explore whether compassion can be conceptualized as a trait, a state, or a dynamic process, and suggest that it is best understood through social-ecological models that account for multi-level influences.

Methodologically, we emphasize the need for culturally sensitive measures and the incorporation of suffering as a contextual trigger for compassion. By drawing conceptual and methodological parallels with resilience epidemiology, this article raises questions and suggests some useful ways to approach the investigation of compassion as a measurable population-level construct. This framing opens important avenues for research and policy aimed at promoting and sustaining compassion across systems and contexts.