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The moderated associations of self-compassion with physiological and psychological stress responses: Comparisons between cancer caregivers and non-caregivers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

Abstract

Self-compassion has been shown to be protective against stress. Whether its stress buffering effect differs between cancer caregivers and non-caregivers is unknown. This study examined the moderating effect of self-compassion among cancer caregivers relative to non-caregivers by recruiting cancer caregivers from the hospital and a community sample matching on sex and age. Participants completed a questionnaire which comprised the self-reported anxiety (STAI-6) and self-compassion (SCS-SF) measures, and administered cortisol sample collections with Salivette tubes at home. Whereas caregivers experienced higher diurnal cortisol level, the differential protective effects of self-compassion were only present against anxiety symptoms but not physiological stress. Copyright © 2021 The Author(s).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2318-2329
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume27
Issue number10
Early online dateJul 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Caregivers
  • Empathy
  • Physiological stress
  • Self-compassion

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