Cited by 931Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionForgiveness and Related Behaviors

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Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention

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Neff, Kristin D.·2023·Annual Review of Psychology

DOI 10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047

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Abstract

Self-compassion refers to being supportive toward oneself when experiencing suffering or pain-be it caused by personal mistakes and inadequacies or external life challenges. This review presents my theoretical model of self-compassion as comprised of six different elements: increased self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness as well as reduced self-judgment, isolation, and overidentification. It discusses the methodology of self-compassion research and reviews the increasingly large number of empirical studies that indicate self-compassion is a productive way of approaching distressing thoughts and emotions that engenders mental and physical well-being. It also reviews research that dispels common myths about self-compassion (e.g., that it is weak, selfish, self-indulgent or undermines motivation). Interventions designed to increase self-compassion, such as compassion-focused therapy and mindful self-compassion, are discussed. Finally, the review considers problematic issues in the field, such as the differential effects fallacy, and considers limitations and future research directions in the field of self-compassion research.

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Background
A meta-analysis of the relation between self-compassion and self-efficacy
Liao, K. Y.-H., Stead, G. B., & Liao, C.-Y. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01626-4 · Cited by 109
From Me to You: Self-Compassion Predicts Acceptance of Own and Others’ Imperfections
Zhang, J. W., Chen, S., & Shakur, T. K. T. (2019) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167219853846 · Cited by 108
Comparing the efficacy of a brief self-esteem and self-compassion intervention for state body dissatisfaction and self-improvement motivation
Moffitt, R. L., Neumann, D. L., & Williamson, S. P. (2018) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.008 · Cited by 106
Mindfulness, Self‐Compassion, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Functional Disability in U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
Dahm, K. A., Meyer, E. C., Neff, K. D., Kimbrel, N. A., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2015) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22045 · Cited by 101
The Role of Self-Compassion in Goal Pursuit and Well-Being Among University Freshmen
Hope, N. H., Koestner, R., & Milyavskaya, M. (2014) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2014.889032 · Cited by 100
Does Self-Compassion Facilitate Resilience to Stigma? A School-Based Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
Vigna, A. J., Poehlmann, J., & Koenig, B. W. (2017) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-017-0831-x · Cited by 95
Self-Compassion Promotes Personal Improvement From Regret Experiences via Acceptance
Zhang, J. W., & Chen, S. (2016) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167215623271 · Cited by 94
The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Self-Compassion: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Wong, M. Y. C., Chung, P., & Leung, K. M. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01513-4 · Cited by 94
Self–Compassion is Best Measured as a Global Construct and is Overlapping with but Distinct from Neuroticism: A Response to Pfattheicher, Geiger, Hartung, Weiss, and Schindler (2017)
Neff, K. D., Tóth‐Király, I., & Colosimo, K. (2018) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.2148 · Cited by 91
Self-Compassion and Anxiety and Depression in Chronic Physical Illness Populations: a Systematic Review
Hughes, M., Brown, S. L., Campbell, S., Dandy, S., & Cherry, M. G. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01602-y · Cited by 88
The relationship between activating affects, inhibitory affects, and self-compassion in patients with Cluster C personality disorders.
Schanche, E., Stiles, T. C., McCullough, L., Svartberg, M., & Nielsen, G. H. (2011) · Psychotherapy · doi:10.1037/a0022012 · Cited by 87
The Differential Effects Fallacy in the Study of Self-compassion: Misunderstanding the Nature of Bipolar Continuums
Neff, K. D. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01832-8 · Cited by 82
Associations of self-compassion and global self-esteem with positive and negative affect and stress reactivity in daily life: Findings from a smart phone study
Krieger, T., Hermann, H., Zimmermann, J., & Holtforth, M. G. (2015) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.08.009 · Cited by 77
Establishing Construct Continua in Construct Validation: The Process of Continuum Specification
Tay, L., & Jebb, A. T. (2018) · Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2515245918775707 · Cited by 77
Is Self-compassion Associated with Sleep Quality? A Meta-analysis
Brown, L., Houston, E. E., Amonoo, H. L., & Bryant, C. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01498-0 · Cited by 75
Exploring the mediating role of self‐blame and coping in the relationships between self‐compassion and distress in females following the sexual assault
Hamrick, L. A., & Owens, G. P. (2018) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22730 · Cited by 74
Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)
Neff, K. D., & Tóth‐Király, I. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-77644-2_36-1 · Cited by 73
Mindful Self-Compassion program for chronic pain patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Torrijos‐Zarcero, M., Mediavilla, R., Rodríguez‐Vega, B., Del Río‐Diéguez, M., López‐Álvarez, I., Rocamora‐González, C., & Palao‐Tarrero, Á. (2021) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.1734 · Cited by 71
Investigating the Influence of Self-Compassion-Focused Interventions on Posttraumatic Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Luo, X., Che, X., Lei, Y., & Li, H. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01732-3 · Cited by 68
A Compassionate Self Is a True Self? Self-Compassion Promotes Subjective Authenticity
Zhang, J.-W., Chen, S., Shakur, T. K. T., Bilgin, B., Chai, W.-J., Ramis, T., Shaban-Azad, H., Razavi, P., Nutankumar, T., & Manukyan, A. A. (2019) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167218820914 · Cited by 63
Self-Compassion in Clinical Samples: A Systematic Literature Review
Athanasakou, D., Karakasidou, E., Pezirkianidis, C., Lakioti, A., & Stalikas, A. (2020) · Psychology · doi:10.4236/psych.2020.112015 · Cited by 62
Beliefs About Self-Compassion: Implications for Coping and Self-Improvement
Chwyl, C., Chen, P., & Zaki, J. (2020) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167220965303 · Cited by 62
Self-compassion and attention: self-compassion facilitates disengagement from negative stimuli
Yip, V. T., & Tong, E. M. W. (2020) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2020.1778060 · Cited by 60
Resisting self-compassion: Why are some people opposed to being kind to themselves?
Robinson, K. J., Mayer, S., Allen, A. B., Terry, M. L., Chilton, A., & Leary, M. R. (2016) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2016.1160952 · Cited by 59
Self‐Compassion Among College Counseling Center Clients: An Examination of Clinical Norms and Group Differences
Lockard, A. J., Hayes, J. A., Neff, K. D., & Locke, B. D. (2014) · Journal of College Counseling · doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2014.00061.x · Cited by 58
Reductions in experiential avoidance explain changes in anxiety, depression and well‐being after a mindfulness and self‐compassion (MSC) training.
Yela, J. R., Crego, A., Buz, J., Sánchez‐Zaballos, E., & Gómez‐Martínez, M. Á. (2022) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1111/papt.12375 · Cited by 56 · cited 1×
“…appears to reduce psychopathology through lessened automatic and negative thinking (Yip & Tong 2021), reduced avoidance of negative emotions (Yela et al. 2022), decreased entanglement with negative emotions (Miyagawa & Taniguchi 2020), and enhanced emotion regulation skills (Inwood &…”
Background
Compassion for Oneself and Others Protects the Mental Health of First Responders
McDonald, M. A., Meckes, S. J., & Lancaster, C. L. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01527-y · Cited by 53
Improving Mental Health Among Transgender Adolescents: Implementing Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens
Bluth, K., Lathren, C., Clepper-Faith, M., Larson, L. M., Ogunbamowo, D. O., & Pflum, S. R. (2021) · Journal of Adolescent Research · doi:10.1177/07435584211062126 · Cited by 53
Self-compassion decreases acceptance of own immoral behaviors
Wang, X., Chen, Z., Poon, K., Teng, F., & Jin, S. (2016) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.10.030 · Cited by 47
“Everything Is Gonna Be Alright with Me”: The Role of Self-Compassion, Affect, and Coping in Negative Emotional Symptoms during Coronavirus Quarantine
Beato, A. F., da Costa, L. P., & Nogueira, R. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18042017 · Cited by 41
Depressive symptoms among patients with lung cancer: Elucidating the roles of shame, guilt, and self-compassion
Siwik, C. J., Phillips, K. M., Zimmaro, L. A., Salmon, P. M., & Sephton, S. E. (2021) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105320988331 · Cited by 39
Self-compassion and Shame Among Rape Survivors
Bhuptani, P. H., & Messman, T. L. (2021) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/08862605211021994 · Cited by 39
Beyond trait models of self-criticism and self-compassion: Variability over domains and the search for signatures
Zuroff, D. C., Clegg, K., Levine, S. L., Hermanto, N., Armstrong, B. F., Haward, B., & Thode, S. (2020) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.110429 · Cited by 38
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade: Self-Compassion Increases Adaptive Beliefs About Failure
Miyagawa, Y., Niiya, Y., & Taniguchi, J. (2019) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-019-00172-0 · Cited by 31
A Systematic Review of Self-Compassion in Chronic Pain: From Correlation to Efficacy
Lanzaro, C., Carvalho, S. A., Lapa, T. A., Valentim, A., & Gago, B. (2021) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1017/sjp.2021.22 · Cited by 29
Investigating Psychometric Properties of the Self-Compassion Scale Using Rasch Methodology
Finaulahi, K. P., Sumich, A. L., Heym, N., & Medvedev, O. N. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01539-8 · Cited by 29
The Self-Compassion Scale: Validation and Psychometric Properties within the Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Framework
Rakhimov, A., Realo, A., & Tang, N. K. Y. (2022) · Journal of Personality Assessment · doi:10.1080/00223891.2022.2093731 · Cited by 29
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) with Veterans: a Program Evaluation
Serpa, J. G., Bourey, C., Adjaoute, G. N., & Pieczynski, J. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01508-1 · Cited by 27
Self-compassion helps people forgive transgressors: Cognitive pathways of interpersonal transgressions
Miyagawa, Y., & Taniguchi, J. (2020) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2020.1862904 · Cited by 27
Development of the Japanese Version of the State Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS-J)
Miyagawa, Y., Tóth‐Király, I., Knox, M. C., Taniguchi, J., & Niiya, Y. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.779318 · Cited by 27
Increased Salivary IgA Response as an Indicator of Immunocompetence After a Mindfulness and Self-Compassion-Based Intervention
Bellosta-Batalla, M., Ruiz-Robledillo, N., Sariñana-González, P., Capella-Solano, T., Vitoria-Estruch, S., Hidalgo-Moreno, G., Pérez-Blasco, J., Romero-Martínez, Á., & Moya-Albiol, L. (2018) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-017-0830-y · Cited by 26
Self-compassion mindsets can predict statistics course performance via intelligence mindsets and statistics anxiety
Zhang, J. W., Kessler, E. D., & Braasch, J. L. G. (2021) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2021.102047 · Cited by 26
Growth after Trauma: The Role of Self-Compassion following Hurricane Harvey
Yuhan, J., Wang, D., Canada, A. L., & Schwartz, J. (2021) · Trauma Care · doi:10.3390/traumacare1020011 · Cited by 26
The association between self‐compassion and treatment outcomes: Session‐level and treatment‐level effects
Galili‐Weinstock, L., Chen, R., Atzil–Slonim, D., Bar‐Kalifa, E., Peri, T., & Rafaeli, E. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22569 · Cited by 24
Self-Compassion, Adaptive Reactions and Health Behaviours Among Adults With Prediabetes and Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes: A Scoping Review
Morgan, T. L., Semenchuk, B. N., Ceccarelli, L. A., Kullman, S. M., Neilson, C. J., Kehler, D. S., Duhamel, T. A., & Strachan, S. M. (2020) · Canadian Journal of Diabetes · doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.05.009 · Cited by 24
Effectiveness of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) vs. the mindful self-compassion (MSC) programs in clinical and health psychologist trainees
Jiménez-Gómez, L., Yela, J. R., Crego, A., Melero-Ventola, A. R., & Gómez-Martínez, M. Á. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01814-2 · Cited by 24 · cited 1×
“For instance, Jiménez-Gómez et al. (2022) examined MSC and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) among psychologist trainees.”
Background
Self-Compassion and Time Perception of Past Negative Events
Miyagawa, Y., & Taniguchi, J. (2019) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-019-01293-6 · Cited by 23
Testing the Indirect Effect of Type 1 Diabetes on Life Satisfaction Through Self-Compassion and Self-Coldness
Charzyńska, E., Kocur, D. J., Działach, S., & Brenner, R. E. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01450-2 · Cited by 20
Protection versus risk? The relative roles of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding for eating disorder behaviors.
Biçaker, E., & Racine, S. (2021) · Eating Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101592 · Cited by 12
You and I Both: Self-Compassion Reduces Self–Other Differences in Evaluation of Showing Vulnerability
Bruk, A., Scholl, S., & Bless, H. (2021) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672211031080 · Cited by 11

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Sorted by citations

Self-Esteem and Self-Compassion: A Narrative Review and Meta-Analysis on Their Links to Psychological Problems and Well-Being
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Resilience and Enhancement in Sport, Exercise, & Training (RESET): A brief self-compassion intervention with NCAA student-athletes
Kuchar, A. L., Neff, K. D., & Mosewich, A. D. (2023) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102426 · Cited by 63
The Compassion Balance: Understanding the Interrelation of Self- and Other-Compassion for Optimal Well-being
Sahdra, B. K., Ciarrochi, J., Fraser, M. I., Yap, K., Haller, E., Hayes, S. C., Hofmann, S. G., & Gloster, A. T. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02187-4 · Cited by 68

See all 931

Authors: Neff, K. D.
Affiliations: The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author: Neff, Kristin D.
ORCID: Neff, Kristin D.
Venue: Annual Review of Psychology
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2023-01-18
Volume: 74
Issue: 1
Pages: 193-218
ISSN: 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
1545-2085
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047
OpenAlex: W4290932423
Cited by: 931
References: 142
Citations by year: 2026: 266 · 2025: 321 · 2024: 221 · 2023: 115
FWCI: 27.78
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (unspecified)
Locations: Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (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-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgment, isolation, over-identification, compassion-focused therapy, mindful self-compassion, self-compassion interventions, well-being
MeSH terms: Self-Compassion, Emotions, Empathy, Humans, Judgment, Mindfulness

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Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention

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