Assessment of self-compassion levels in nursing students

Abstract

Objective: Assess and understand levels of self-compassion in nursing graduates. Method: Quantitative and exploratory study conducted at a private institution in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, using a validated scale to measure self-compassion. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Student’s t-test, Welch’s t-test, and Mann-Whitney test were applied for comparison between groups. Results: 60.7% of participants practiced some form of religion, 73.3% did not undergo psychotherapy, and 82.2% did not use psychotropic drugs. Participants who practiced religion had higher scores on the self-kindness subscale. Those who underwent psychotherapy showed less self-criticism and a tendency toward obsessive rumination. Conclusion: Self-compassion was associated with factors such as religiosity, psychotherapy, and physical activity, indicating a positive influence on emotional well-being. The findings reinforce the importance of self-care strategies in nursing education, promoting mental health and reducing stigma in the search for support.