The relationship between self-compassion and psychological distress in cancer patients and survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Self-compassion, directing kindness toward oneself during difficult experiences, has been linked to lower anxiety, depression, and stress throughout the cancer trajectory. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically review existing findings, calculate aggregated effect sizes, and examine cancer phase (acute vs. survivorship) as a potential moderator. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies (3,626 participants across 13 countries) was conducted, assessing associations between self-compassion and anxiety (14 studies), depression (20), and stress (14) in cancer populations. PsycInfo, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched on June 6, 2025. Results: Medium-to-large negative associations were found between self-compassion and both anxiety and stress, and a large negative association with depression. Cancer phase moderated the relationship with stress, showing a stronger effect in survivorship than in the acute phase. Conclusion: Self-compassion appears protective against psychological distress in cancer patients, especially during survivorship. Tailoring self-compassion–based interventions to cancer phase may enhance their effectiveness.