Abstract
Self-compassion has gained increasing attention in psychological research as an approach to promoting emotional wellbeing and reducing psychological distress. This study systematically reviews empirical research on self-compassion interventions published between 2015 and 2025 to identify intervention models, methodological trends, target populations and psychological outcomes. Using the PRISMA framework, relevant studies were retrieved from the Scopus database. Six empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using narrative and thematic synthesis. The findings showed diverse intervention formats, including brief single-session programs, mobile application-based interventions, virtual reality (VR) approaches and structured multi-week programs such as Compassionate Mind Training for Teachers (CMT-T) and Mindfulness-Based Compassion and Resilience Enhancement (MBCARE). Across studies, self-compassion interventions were associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, burnout and self-criticism, as well as improvements in mindfulness, resilience and emotional well-being. Intervention effectiveness was influenced by factors such as duration, participant adherence, contextual adaptation and baseline psychological characteristics. The review also highlights the growing use of digital modalities to improve accessibility among non-clinical populations, including students, teachers and healthcare professionals. However, most studies were short-term and predominantly conducted in Western contexts, indicating the need for culturally adapted and longitudinal research in non-Western populations. Overall, self-compassion interventions show promise as effective strategies for enhancing psychological well-being across educational, occupational and community settings.
Keywords: Mental Health, Psychological Well-being, Self-compassion Intervention, Systematic Review.