The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 77 of the 79 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Self-compassion, physical health, and health behaviour: a meta-analysis
Abstract
This meta-analysis investigated relationships between self-compassion and (1) physical health and (2) health-promoting behaviour in a large pooled sample (N = 29,588) sourced from 94 peer-reviewed articles. As hypothesised, omnibus analyses revealed positive associations between self-compassion and both physical health (r = .18) and health behaviour (r = .26). Moderation analyses using 290 effects found that both associations varied according to health domain, participant age, intervention duration, and self-compassion measure. Self-compassion predicted outcomes in most health domains, with the strongest effects observed on global physical health, functional immunity, composite health behaviour, sleep, and danger avoidance. It did not predict frailty, maladaptive bodily routines, and substance abuse. Multi-session interventions designed to boost self-compassion predicted increased physical health and health behaviour, thereby supporting causal links between self-compassion and health outcomes. The effects of single-session inductions were non-significant. The mean effect of self-compassion on physical health was non-significant for young participants (12.00–19.99) and its effect on health behaviour was weakest among older participants (40.00+). Results support the proposition that self-compassion can promote better physical health. Practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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“Yet, it is possible that it is related to positive reframing of negative events; indeed, it is associated with adaptive coping [77,78] and emotional stability [79] and it contributes to predicting health and well-being also in chronic illness contexts [80,81].”
From The Role of Emotion-Related Abilities in the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [81]
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“The empirical literature strongly supports the link between self-compassion and well-being (Neff et al. 2018a, Phillips & Hine 2021, Zessin et al. 2015).”
BackgroundMethodPositive psychology in a pandemic: buffering, bolstering, and building mental health
Waters, L., Algoe, S. B., Dutton, J., Emmons, R., Fredrickson, B. L., Heaphy, E., Moskowitz, J. T., Neff, K., Niemiec, R., Pury, C., et al. (2022) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2021.1871945 · Cited by 377
Procrastination and Stress: A Conceptual Review of Why Context Matters
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“Studies have also demonstrated that a tendency to procrastinate is associated with low mindfulness [16] and low self-compassion [22], two qualities that involve appraising challenging events in a less threatening manner and in turn reduce stress [27,28].”
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Long, P., & Christie, L. M. (2021) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.03.020 · Cited by 91
Durosini, I., Triberti, S., Savioni, L., Sebri, V., & Pravettoni, G. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191912704 · Cited by 80
“Yet, it is possible that it is related to positive reframing of negative events; indeed, it is associated with adaptive coping [77,78] and emotional stability [79] and it contributes to predicting health and well-being also in chronic illness contexts [80,81].”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Phillips, W. J., & Hine, D. W.
- Affiliations
- University of New England (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Phillips, Wendy J.
- Venue
- Health Psychology Review
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-12-22
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 113-139
- ISSN
- 1743-7199 (ISSN-L)
- 1743-7202
- OpenAlex
- W2995869527
- Cited by
- 224
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 1.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Wellbeing Research
- Keywords
- self-compassion, physical health, health behavior, health-promoting behaviours, functional immunity, sleep, danger avoidance, frailty, substance abuse, self-compassion interventions, age differences
- MeSH terms
- Empathy, Humans, Health Behavior
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