New frontiers in understanding the benefits of self-compassion
Abstract
There has recently been an exponential increase in research into the psychological health benefits of self-compassion. Since the first two studies on the topic were published by Neff (2003a, 2003b)...
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High self-compassion is associated with greater resilience and positive coping in response to major life stresses, such as divorce, eating disorders, and chronic health issues.
“For example, adopting an especially compassionate perspective on one's self (high self-compassion) is associ ated with greater resilience and positive coping in response to major life stresses, such as divorce, eating disorders, and chronic health issues (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
From Self and identity in personality psychology (2021) · cites this paper as Bluth & Neff, 2018
Cites
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“Self-compassion has been shown to be consistently associated with benefits for mental health and well-being across diverse populations.(2,3) Specific interventions aimed to cultivate self-compassion skills, such as the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program(4,5) have even been designed.”
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“This is particularly salient, as self-compassion can be taught (Bluth and Neff, 2018).”
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“The self-compassion scale has been translated to 16 languages (Bluth & Neff, 2018) and used with different populations such as parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (Neff & Faso, 2015) and adults with spina bifida (Hayter & Dorstyn, 2014).”
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“On the other hand, based on the results of bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling (bifactor-ESEM), Neff (2016, 2019; see also Neff et al., 2018; Neff & Tóth-Király, 2023) has favoured a model consisting of six uncorrelated specific or S-factors and one global (G) factor of…”
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“Self-compassion is gaining attention as a protective factor against stress-related mental and physical pathology (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
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“Self-compassion is one such factor that may act as a buffer against distress (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
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“Neff’s original conceptualization of self-compassion envisioned this capacity as a way to buffer the effects of stress against the development of heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety (Bluth & Neff, 2018; Neff, 2003a, b).”
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“In particular, selfcompassion has been highlighted as an effective approach for coping with difficulties during adolescence (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
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“There is growing interest in self-compassion as a protective factor for a range of psychological issues, particularly the development of DE behaviours (Bluth and Neff, 2018).”
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“Selfcompassion is described as “a way of relating to [oneself] in times of suffering that is characterized by increased kindness and reduced self-judgement, increased feelings of common humanity and decreased isolation, and greater mindfulness and less over-identification with difficult thoughts and feelings” [39].”
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A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of a Well-Being Intervention for Healthcare Chaplains
Harris, S., Sawyer, A. T., Tao, H., & Bailey, A. K. (2023) · Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling · doi:10.1177/15423050221146510 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Huang, L., Liang, K., Chen, S., Ren, Y., Zhu, Y., & Chi, X. (2021) · Risk Management and Healthcare Policy · doi:10.2147/rmhp.s336709 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Conversely, individuals with LSC may manifest a high level of self-criticism.(66) Many studies showed that excessive self-criticism might lead to depression symptoms.”
The Role of Self-compassion as a Mediator Between Insomnia, Depression, and Anxiety
Marques, D. R., Miller‐Mendes, M., Gomes, A. A., & Pereira, A. (2024) · Sleep and Vigilance · doi:10.1007/s41782-024-00265-8 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
The Predictive and Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in Substance Use Disorders
Karlou, I., & Karakasidou, E. (2025) · European Journal of Counselling Psychology · doi:10.46853/001c.133794 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Zhang, R., Zhang, X., Yang, M., & Zhang, H. (2024) · International Journal of Mental Health Promotion · doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2023.045819 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Javidi, Z., Prior, K. N., Sloan, T. L., & Bond, M. J. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01490-4 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Múzquiz, J., García, A. M. P., & Bermúdez, J. (2021) · Revista de Psicopatología y Psicología Clínica · doi:10.5944/rppc.28156 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Lero, C., Park, S., & Mroz, E. L. (2025) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951524001639 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Some studies integrate self-compassion as a component of mindfulness, consistent with the identified components (e.g., non-judgment) of both self-compassion and mindfulness (Bluth and Neff 2018).”
Kim, H. Y., & Choi, E. (2025) · Australian Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/03128962251329147 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…is a relatively new construct to be examined in the management literature (Chen, 2018; Schabram and Heng, 2022), although scholars and practitioners in the field of psychology have been examining self-compassion and psychological functioning for over two decades (e.g. Bluth and Neff, 2018).”
Zhang, J., Wang, X., & Mu, S. (2023) · School Psychology International · doi:10.1177/01430343231182387 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Self-compassion augments resilience to stress (Bluth & Neff, 2018) and may mitigate burnout.”
BackgroundWorking with stigma: the buffering role of self-compassion
Xu, Y. Q., Wang, T., & Li, J. (2023) · Asia Pacific Journal of Management · doi:10.1007/s10490-023-09917-1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In challenging environments, self-compassion can exert positive implications (Bluth & Neff, 2018; Germer & Neff, 2019 ; Lanaj et al., 2021).”
Spowart, S. (2022) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.107413 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Buxton, A. E., Hofheinz, C., Remmers, C., & Michalak, J. (2023) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2023.2179439 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“The interest in the psychological benefits of self-compassion has exponentially increased in the last years (Bluth & Neff, 2018) as a growing number of studies has shown a self-compassionate mindset to be associated with positive effects on psycho-pathology for a variety of disorders (MacBeth &…”
BackgroundKhatib, N. A. M., Roseliza-Murni, A., Hoesni, S. M., & Manap, J. (2021) · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v11-i3/8916 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, X., Yi, L., & Zhang, J. (2025) · Anxiety Stress & Coping · doi:10.1080/10615806.2025.2548254 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Highlighting the importance of both compassionate and reduced uncompassionate behaviors, Neff et al. (2018) underscores their profound impact on psychological well-being.”
Exploring the Link Between Identity Avoidance and Perceived Self-Knowledge
Needy, L. M., Arthur, K. M., Fernandez, L. J., Yin, Y., Jiang, T., Schlegel, R. J., & Hicks, J. A. (2025) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672251343114 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…among individuals with CSIs represents a promising direction for future studies, considering self-compassion is a flexible construct with significant effects on various psychological outcomes, including self-criticism, depression, and anxiety (Bluth & Neff, 2018; Ferrari et al., 2019).”
Students’ self-compassion and academic resilience in pandemic era
Yustika, Y., & Widyasari, P. (2021) · International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education · doi:10.24036/00458za0002 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-Compassion Based on Gender and Student Academic Achievement
Setiani, I. B., & Titi, D. (2023) · Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling · doi:10.17977/um001v8i12023p14-23 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Besides, self-compassion is consistently linked with positive mental health (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
BackgroundAction learning as a practice: A case study of compassion in action
Waddington, K., Nowlan, J., & Kaplan, Y. (2021) · EWOP in Practice · doi:10.21825/ewopinpractice.87156 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Individuals who learn to be present with their distress are better able to manage difficult emotions and have greater psychological health and well-being (Bluth & Neff, 2018; Inwood & Ferrari, 2019).”
BackgroundSelf-Compassion: Unveiling Mental Health Through Emotion Regulation in High-school Students
Syafitri, N., Lubis, R., Indrawan, Y. F., & Choong, T. C. (2024) · Tazkiya Journal of Psychology · doi:10.15408/tazkiya.v12i1.37794 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Restaurant employees’ Thriving at Work: The Roles of Psychosocial Safety Climate and Self-Compassion
Kim, H., Im, J., & Shin, Y. H. (2024) · International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration · doi:10.1080/15256480.2024.2377150 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Indeed, self-compassion is an invaluable source of strength and resilience when facing challenges and adversity in life and, ultimately, influences people’s positive mental health and wellbeing (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
Hailikari, T. K., Kosenkranius, M., Rönkkönen, S., & Virtanen, V. (2025) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2025.102692 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-compassion Among First Year Boarding School Students
Yasmin, M., & Ningsih, Y. T. (2021) · Jurnal Neo Konseling · doi:10.24036/00568kons2021 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Bluth & Neff, 2018 juga menjelaskan bahwa adanya mindfulnessakan membantu individu dalam menyelesaikan berbagai problematika dengan keberanian dan menghadapinya secara nyata.”
BackgroundArabi, A., Hasani, J., Akbari, M., Hatami, M., & Zadeh, M. R. S. (2021) · Journal of Research in Behavioural Sciences · doi:10.52547/rbs.18.4.605 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Achtsamkeitsbasierte Interventionen und Selbstmitgefühl im Psychodrama: Wege der Integration
Mayrhofer, D. (2020) · Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie · doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00532-6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Hayes, A. J., Freestone, M., & Day, J. J. (2019) · Sunan Kalijaga International Journal of Islamic Civilization · doi:10.14421/skijic.v2i2.1510 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
A Self-Compassion Experience in Immersive Video: Opportunities and PitfallsPreprint
Landau, D., Hasler, B. S., Golland, Y., Huebbe, B., Idan, O., Magnat, M., Magidov, E., & Friedman, D. A. (2022) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/z4q9f · Cited by 3 · see citing works
İşletme Hastalıkları Bağlamında: Örgütsel Körlük (Miyopi) ve Silo Sendromu
Seyrek, E. (2024) · Özgür Yayınları eBooks · doi:10.58830/ozgur.pub642.c2729 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Bord, S., Inchi, L., Paldi, Y., Baruch, R., Shpiro, M. S., Ronen, S., Eizenberg, L., Gens, I., & Yaari, M. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13151889 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“The concept of self-compassion, originally Buddhist, has been integrated into Western psychological literature [14].”
Prabawa, A. F., Hidayah, N., Indreswari, H., Atmoko, A., Ramli, M., Antika, E. R., & Mahalle, S. (2025) · Multidisciplinary Science Journal · doi:10.31893/multiscience.2026235 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
ÇALIŞMA YAŞAMINDA ŞEFKAT KAVRAMINA İLİŞKİN BİBLİYOMETRİK BİR ANALİZ
GÜLER, D. (2023) · Journal of Business in The Digital Age · doi:10.46238/jobda.1291119 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Nezhad, M. I., Abdollahzadeh, H., & Khoshli, A. K. (2023) · Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.32598/shenakht.10.2.54 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Action learning and coaching as an integrated approach for supporting women’s career progression
Waddington, K., & Jones, S. (2023) · Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice · doi:10.56433/jpaap.v11i2.548 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Thirdly, we integrated theoretical perspectives from the field of self-compassion (Bluth & Neff, 2018; Neff, 2023), and the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and associated concept of job crafting (Bakker et al., 2014) into the process of action learning.”
Making the Personal Political: Personal versus Group-Focused Rumination Following Sexual Harassment
Sinclair, L., Trapnell, P. D., & Kinsman, L. (2023) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-023-01407-4 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Theresia, S., & Tiatri, S. (2023) · International Journal of Application on Social Science and Humanities · doi:10.24912/ijassh.v1i2.26393 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-Compassion in Students: Theoretical Background, Practices, and Positive Outcomes
Çağış, Z. G., & Yıldırım, M. (2024) · Advances in mental health and addiction · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54295-4_4 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
McArthur, S., McLaren, S., & Goldie, P. D. (2025) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.23764 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“One salient example is self ‐ compassion, an adaptive personal coping resource that may minimize perceived threat (Bluth and Neff 2018).”
Envious Behavior among University Students: Role of Personality Traits and Self-Compassion
Zonash, R., Arouj, K., & Jamala, B. (2021) · Journal of Research in Social Sciences · doi:10.52015/jrss.9i1.95 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Self-compassion serves as an imperative commitment to passionate prosperity and life happiness (Bluth & Neff, 2018).”
BackgroundSilhan, M., & Garnefski, N. (2022) · Advances in Health and Behavior · doi:10.25082/ahb.2022.01.004 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“While there have been about 1600 studies containing “self-compassion” in their title in 2018, at the time of the present research this number has risen to 5660 studies (Bluth & Neff, 2018) – a clear indication of exponential growth in articles published on this topic.”
BackgroundPositive psychology pioneers: Kristin Neff's power and potential to influence mental health nursing
Macfarlane, J. (2023) · British Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.12968/bjmh.2022.0036 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Rooting compassionate leadership in the NHS context
Simpson, A. V. (2021) · British Journal of Healthcare Management · doi:10.12968/bjhc.2021.0083 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bluth, K., & Neff, K. D.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bluth, Karen
- Venue
- Self and Identity
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-08-15
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 605-608
- ISSN
- 1529-8868 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-8876
- OpenAlex
- W2885877817
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 11.46
- 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
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
- Keywords
- self-compassion, self-compassion interventions, well-being
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