It is important to clarify the association of self-compassion with caregivers of adults with cancer. The aim of the study was to examine the association between self-compassion and caregiving burden in caregivers of adults with cancer. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 312 caregivers. Data were collected through self-report using the Personal Information Form, the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and the Zarit Burden Interview. The Pearson correlation method was used to examine the associations between these scale scores. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the associations between the sub-dimensions of the self-compassion scale and participants’ caregiving burden levels. There was a tendency for participants with higher caregiving burden scale total scores to report lower self-compassion total scores (r = -0.505, p < 0.01). Caregiving burden scores were negatively correlated with self-kindness (r = -0.378, p < 0.01), self-judgment (r = -0.255, p < 0.01), common humanity (r = -0.361, p < 0.01), isolation (r = -0.290, p < 0.01), excessive identification (r = -0.312, p < 0.01), and mindfulness (r = -0.428, p < 0.01) subscale scores. The multiple linear regression model was statistically significant (F = 18.399, p < 0.001), accounting for approximately 26.6% of the variance in caregiving burden scores (R² = 0.266) based on the self-compassion scale subscales. Among these subscales, only mindfulness showed a significant association with caregiving burden level (B = -2.303, t = -2.968, p = 0.003), indicating that higher mindfulness scores were linked to lower overall caregiving burden scores. Our findings indicate that the mindfulness sub-dimension of self-compassion was negatively associated with caregiver burden, with higher levels of mindfulness linked to lower levels of caregiver burden. From a nursing perspective, these observed associations suggest that mindfulness-oriented approaches may be relevant constructs to consider within nurse-led caregiver support practices. However, longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to further clarify issues of causality and to evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions. Not applicable.
kalav et al. (Mon,) studied this question.