A study on self-compassion predicts stress management among caregivers of terminally ill patients

The present study examined whether self-compassion predicts stress management among caregivers of terminally ill patients. A quantitative correlational and predictive research design was adopted. Data were collected from 150 caregivers using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) developed by Kristin Neff and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) developed by Levenstein et al. (1993). Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation and Simple Linear Regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between self-compassion and stress management (r = 0.601, p < 0.01), indicating that higher levels of self-compassion are associated with better stress management among caregivers. The findings suggest that self-compassion serves as a meaningful psychological resource for caregivers, enabling adaptive coping, emotional regulation, and reduced distress in the context of terminal caregiving.