The forest and the trees: Examining the association of self-compassion and its positive and negative components with psychological functioning
Abstract
This paper presents two studies focusing on the link between psychological functioning and self-compassion as measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), especially in terms of SCS components that represent increased compassionate and reduced uncompassionate behavior. Study One examined this association in seven domains – psychopathology, positive psychological health, emotional intelligence, self-concept, body image, motivation, and interpersonal functioning – and found that while reduced negative self-responding had a stronger link to negative emotionality and self-evaluation than positive self-responding, they were roughly equivalent predictors in other domains. Study Two examined the association of compassionate and reduced uncompassionate behavior with sympathetic nervous system and inflammatory activity after stress, and found they equally predicted salivary alpha amylase and interleukin-6 levels in individuals after a stressful situation. Overall, results suggest that both compassionate and reduced uncompassionate self-responding are central to self-compassion and that both help to explain its link to healthy psychological functioning.
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Prior studies documented significant correlations (small/moderate to large) between self-compassion and mindfulness and between self-compassion and mental health/well-being indicators.
“Opierając się na wcześniejszych badaniach, które udokumentowały istotne korelacje (od małych/umiarkowanych do dużych) między współczuciem dla siebie i cechą uważności oraz między współczuciem dla siebie a wskaźnikami zdrowia psychicznego idobrostanu [28, 35, 36]”
From The Polish adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (2024) · cites this paper as [36]
Higher levels of self-compassion are significantly associated with lower levels of contingent self-worth.
“and lower levels of contingent self‐worth (Neff et al. 2018)”
From The Mechanisms Underlying the Relationship Between Self‐Compassion and Psychological Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review. (2025) · cites this paper as Neff et al. 2018
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Self-Compassion: Theory and Measurement
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Self-Compassion and Time Perception of Past Negative Events
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A Psychoeducational Group Intervention for Nurses: Rationale, Theoretical Framework, and Development
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Understanding the Link Between Motivational Interviewing and Self-Compassion
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“Empirical findings indicate that higher levels of self‐compassion are significantly associated with greater authenticity (Chew and Ang 2023) and lower levels of contingent self‐worth (Neff et al. 2018) and self‐stigma (Hilbert et al. 2015).”
The Polish adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form
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“…między współczuciem dla siebie i cechą uważności oraz między współczuciem dla siebie a wskaźnikami zdrowia psychicznego i dobrostanu [28, 35, 36], przewidywaliśmy istotne korelacje między współczuciem do siebie (wynik całkowity) a cechą mindfulness (MAAS), skalą samooceny (SES), nasileniem…”
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Mindful Mindset, Interconnectedness and Dignity
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An Invitation to Act on the Value of Self-Care: Being a Whole Person in All That You Do
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Self-Compassion as a Moderator between Clinical Perfectionism and Psychological Distress
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“…in personality psychology six-factor model (Castilho, Pinto-Gouveia, & Duarte, 2015; Williams et al., 2014), the overall self-compassion score (Neff et al., 2018), and the two-factor model (Costa et al., 2015; Toth-Kiraly et al., 2017), the current study indicates that the use of…”
BackgroundMental health self-stigma: links with social self-worth contingencies and ally support
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- Authors
- Neff, K. D., Long, P., Knox, M. C., Davidson, O., Kuchar, A., Costigan, A., Williamson, Z., Rohleder, N., Tóth-Király, I., & Breines, J. G.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Brandeis University (US)
- Doctoral School of Psychology and Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- Corresponding author
- Neff, Kristin D.
- Venue
- Self and Identity
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-10-07
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 627-645
- ISSN
- 1529-8868 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-8876
- OpenAlex
- W2901159435
- Cited by
- 234
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 21.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Self and Identity (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
- Keywords
- self-compassion, Self-Compassion Scale, psychological functioning, psychopathology, emotional intelligence, self-concept, body image, motivation, interpersonal functioning, stress, sympathetic nervous system, salivary amylase, interleukin-6, inflammation
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