Self-Compassion in University Students: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

This integrative review reviewed the scientific production on self-compassion in college students. Searches were performed in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, without temporal delimitation, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. A total of 183 files were found, and after the screening, eligibility, and selection steps, 9 papers were included, following the PRISMA guidelines. The intervention studies analyzed showed that adaptations of the MBSR protocol were predominantly used, employing elements of self-compassion. Overall, the results demonstrated a relationship between self-compassion and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, high levels of mindfulness, verbal and figurative creativity, altruism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, control beliefs in learning, compassion competence, and mindfulness behavior were identified; and that self-compassion may be an important moderator for minimizing suicidal behaviors and self-criticism among college students. It is concluded that self-compassion is an important predictor of psychological well-being that positively influences the learning process.