When softness builds strength: A three-level meta-analysis of the relationship between self-compassion and resilience

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.1683

Abstract

Abstract: Stressors are pervasive in contemporary society and contribute to increased vulnerability to stress-related disorders. Strengthening resilience is crucial for reducing health risks. Among protective factors, self-compassion has been proposed as a promising resource for promoting resilience. This argument is supported by the tripartite model of affect regulation, which posits that self-compassion activates the soothing system and down-regulates the threat system. This affect regulation process is considered a central mechanism underlying resilience within the affect regulation framework of psychological resilience. However, empirical findings on the relationship between self-compassion and resilience remain scattered and inconsistent, with some studies reporting robust associations, while others showing weak or nonsignificant results. The inconsistency raises questions regarding the overall strength of this association and the boundary conditions. To address this gap, the present meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively synthesize both correlational and causal evidence on the relationship between self-compassion and resilience, and to examine potential moderators related to population characteristics, contextual factors, operationalization of resilience, self-compassion types and components, and study design, guided by the systemic model of resilience.
A systematic literature search was conducted across six databases: CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, and CINAHL. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and extracted data. A three-level meta-analysis was performed in R 4.2.2 to estimate pooled effect sizes and examine moderators. Study quality was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tools. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger-MLMA regression and the fail-safe number, and sensitivity analyses were conducted with multiple diagnostics, including studentized deleted residuals, Cook’s distance, and DFBETAS. Results indicated a low risk of publication bias and robust findings.
A total of 124 studies, comprising 128 independent samples and 296 effect sizes from 44, 775 participants, were included in the meta-analyses. Self-compassion was positively correlated with resilience (r = 0.46, 95% CI [0.42, 0.49]), and self-compassion interventions significantly enhanced resilience (Hedges’ g = 0.49, 95% CI [0.32, 0.65]). Moderator analyses revealed that the relationship between self-compassion and resilience was influenced by population characteristics (health status), contextual factors (adversity types, specific adverse events, and cultural backgrounds), resilience operationalization (orientation, measurement and domains of resilient outcomes), and intervention formats. Specifically, stronger associations were observed in cultural contexts more distant from Chinese culture, under social adversity (particularly stigma and interpersonal violence), and when resilience was conceptualized as a trait and assessed as psychological or overall resilience. Different types and components of self-compassion exhibited differential associations with resilience: uncompassionate self-responding was more strongly associated with resilience than compassionate self-responding, whereas common humanity showed the weakest association among the six components. In intervention samples, effects were more pronounced among individuals at higher health risk and when the intervention was delivered in blended online-offline formats. Age, gender, and study design did not moderate their relationship.
The findings support the proposed affect-regulation model of self-compassion in promoting resilience (Affect-Regulation Model, ARM), advancing theoretical understanding of the relationship between self-compassion and resilience. Practically, the results provide evidence for targeting self-compassion in resilience-enhancing interventions, highlight the need for targeted and context-sensitive approaches, particularly for vulnerable populations and under social adversity, and underscore the importance of culturally adapted interventions. Future research should give greater consideration to different operationalizations of resilience, its multidimensional nature, and more fine-grained moderators.

Key words: self-compassion, resilience, three-level meta-analysis, culture, affect regulation

LI Xinyi, HE jiaxi, XIAO Han, LIU Xiaodi, ZHOU Guangyu. (2026). When softness builds strength: A three-level meta-analysis of the relationship between self-compassion and resilience. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 58(9), 1683-1697.

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