The relevance of self‐compassion as an intervention target in mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review based on an emotion regulation framework
Abstract
BackgroundThere is growing interest in self‐compassion as a possible treatment target for individuals with depression and anxiety disorders. Understanding self‐compassion within an emotion regulation (ER) framework of mood and anxiety disorders has the potential to generate insights into the clinical relevance of self‐compassion in the treatment of depression and anxiety. The aim of the current review was to integrate evidence and theory from the self‐compassion, ER, and mood and anxiety disorders literatures to highlight directions for research and inform clinical applications.MethodsA review of the cross‐sectional and experimental quantitative literature pertaining to self‐compassion, ER, and mood and anxiety disorders was undertaken, guided by established models of ER in mood and anxiety disorders. Evidence from clinical and non‐clinical studies was included.ResultsThere is preliminary support for an ER framework of self‐compassion and mood and anxiety disorders: in particular, there is evidence that self‐compassion is linked to factors that represent key mechanisms in ER models of depression and anxiety, including affective experiences, ER capacities, and propensity to deploy specific ER strategies. However, research with clinical populations is limited.ConclusionsAn ER perspective may provide a useful framework for guiding research and clinical work on self‐compassion and mood and anxiety disorders. Further research is required to comprehensively test the relationship be…
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Self-compassion is linked to greater emotional awareness, acceptance, and clarity, as well as to less use of maladaptive strategies such as avoidance, rumination, and worry.
“Results showed that self‐compassion is linked to greater emotional awareness, acceptance, and clarity, as well as to less use of maladaptive strategies such as avoidance, rumination, and worry.”
From The Mechanisms Underlying the Relationship Between Self‐Compassion and Psychological Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review. (2025) · cites this paper as Finlay‐Jones 2017
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“There is also a probability that self-compassion is associated with a decrease in the use of negative coping strategies, such as rumination, self-criticism, emotional suppression, and avoidance (Finlay-Jones, 2017).”
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“Empirical evidence for the association of self‐compassion with emotion regulation and coping comes from a narrative overview by Finlay‐Jones (2017).”
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- Authors
- Finlay‐jones, A. L.
- Affiliations
- Curtin University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Finlay‐jones, Amy Louise
- Venue
- Clinical Psychologist
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-07-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 90-103
- ISSN
- 1328-4207 (ISSN-L)
- 1742-9552
- OpenAlex
- W2732924384
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Keywords
- self-compassion, emotion regulation, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, compassion-focused interventions, emotional experience, emotion regulation strategies
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