Self-compassion in physical health populations and intellectual disability contexts: a systematic review of associations with quality of life and measurement adaptation using Delphi methodology

Evans, Bethan 2026. Self-compassion in physical health populations and intellectual disability contexts: a systematic review of associations with quality of life and measurement adaptation using Delphi methodology. ClinPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Abstract Objective: Research suggests that people experiencing long-term physical health conditions (LTC) have a lower quality of life (QoL) than the general population, and that higher levels of self compassion are associated with greater QoL in this population. However, no systematic reviews into this association in adults with an LTC have been conducted. Design: A systematic review was conducted to examine the relationship between self-compassion and QoL in adults with an LTC. A narrative synthesis provided a summary of results observed across the studies. Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and ProQuest were searched to identify published and unpublished research. Results: Sixteen studies with a total of 3642 participants were included. Overall, bivariate analyses suggest that self-compassion and QoL are significantly and positively correlated within this population. The strongest and most consistent associations were found between negative self compassion components (self-judgement, isolation and overidentification) and QoL, suggesting these potentially drive the association. These components were reverse scored in the included studies, meaning that higher scores reflected lower levels of self-judgement, isolation, and overidentification, and therefore greater self-compassion. Support for the association between self-compassion and QoL from multivariate analyses controlling for demographic, psychological and illness-related variables was weaker. Conclusions: These findings suggest that self-compassion may not function as an independent predictor of QoL, but instead operates as part of broader psychological processes, interpreted within the review in relation to coping strategies. Furthermore, the findings indicate that interventions targeting self-judgement, isolation, and overidentification may have the potential to improve QoL in adults with LTCs.

Item Type:	Thesis (DClinPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 September 2026
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2026 15:37
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189549

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