Self-Compassion in University Students: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to review the scientific literature in order to gather empirical evidence about self-compassion in college students. The integrative review included articles published from 2009 to 2021, indexed in the PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, available in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. A total of 183 studies were found, and after undergoing the screening, eligibility, and selection steps, 9 articles were included, following the guidelines as established by PRISMA. The analysis of the results was categorized into two main topics: (i) self-compassion-based interventions for academics and (ii) self-compassion as a psychological protective factor for the mental health of higher education students. The results showed that self-compassion is considered an important protective factor for positive psychological functioning and for the development of characteristics that reflect positive dimensions of mental health and academic performance in college students.