Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Self-compassion is associated with less stress and depression and greater attention and 
brain response to affective stimuli in women managers  
 
Version: 0 Date: 25 Sep 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Michael T.  Weaver  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
An excellent paper. There was really only 1 thing that needs additional clarification. Specifically, 
on page 10, line  16, you mention that severity of perceived stress was controlled for as all 
participants had stress complaints.  
 
Do you mean that all participants had similar levels of stress / stress complaints? I noticed that 
the mean PSS was higher than the overall female reference norm, but the range in your sample 
includes lower -stress and higher -stress individuals.  
 
Please exp and on / describe how the range of PSS scores could be considered to be of similar 
magnitude, at least for the purposes of this study. Otherwise, perhaps an exploration of 
moderation of results by stress level would be informative.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by th e data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able  to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
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3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
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holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manus cript?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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