The Relationship between Self-Compassion and Sleep Quality: An Overview of a Seven-Year German Research Program

Abstract

Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent in modern societies and negatively linked to various health outcomes. While previous research has demonstrated preliminary evidence for self-compassion as a tool for improving sleep quality, this review provides a meta-analysis of respective published and unpublished results of our own research group using German samples. A total of nine studies are included (N = 956 participants), consisting of both correlational and experimental data. Across these studies, there was a medium correlation between self-compassion and subjective sleep quality, r = 0.303, 95% CI (0.244; 0.360). In three experimental studies, a small increase in participants’ self-reported sleep quality emerged, in comparison to control conditions, Hedges’ s g = 0.484, 95% CI (0.148; 0.821). Limitations on study level concern both the small sample sizes and short-term analyses of intervention effects. As a conclusion, this review supports both the correlational and causal relationship between self-compassion and increased subjective sleep quality across diverse operationalizations and samples. Future research should focus on the moderating effects of intervention type, duration of intervention effects, and type of target population.

Losing sleep over work: A self‐determination theory view on need frustration, sleep disturbance, and mental ill health

“…self-critical standards) that can maintain the cycle of basic psychological need frustration and illbeing over time (Soenens et al, 2008). Critically, research has revealed associations between sleep disturbance and perceived stress (Morin et al, 2003), heavy alcohol use (Britton et al, 2020), and less self-compassion (Butz & Stahlberg, 2020)…”

Determinants of Adolescents’ Healthy Lifestyle Behavior in Kediri, East Java

“…When adolescents with a high level of resilience, self-compassion, and hope face problems or challenges, they will experience a certain process of accepting the situation in a calm, balanced, and meaningful way. Adolescents also experience positive emotions, a sense of security and comfort, and a soothing effect, as well as improvement in negative feelings related to problems in performing healthy lifestyle behavior (Butz & Stahlberg, 2020;Li et al, 2019;Nery-Hurwit et al, 2018).…”

Self-compassion and sleep quality: Examining the mediating role of taking a proactive health focus and cognitive emotional regulation strategies

“…Two meta-analyses have examined the relationship between self-compassion and sleep ( Brown et al, 2021 ; Butz and Stahlberg, 2020 ). Brown et al (2021) found that among adults ( N = 1830) self-compassion was negatively associated with disturbing sleep symptoms ( r = −0.32, 95% CI [−0.36, −0.28]) with effect sizes ranging from −0.37 ( Dvořáková et al, 2017 ) to −0.23 ( Hu et al, 2018 ) among college students.…”

“… Brown et al (2021) found that among adults ( N = 1830) self-compassion was negatively associated with disturbing sleep symptoms ( r = −0.32, 95% CI [−0.36, −0.28]) with effect sizes ranging from −0.37 ( Dvořáková et al, 2017 ) to −0.23 ( Hu et al, 2018 ) among college students. Butz and Stahlberg (2020) found that among community adults ( N = 959) self-compassion was positively related to subjective sleep ( r = 0.30, 95% CI [0.24, 0.36]). Compared to a control condition, self-compassion interventions ( n = 3) led to increases in sleep quality (Hedges’ g = 0.48, 95% CI [0.15, 0.82]; Butz and Stahlberg, 2020 ).…”

“… Butz and Stahlberg (2020) found that among community adults ( N = 959) self-compassion was positively related to subjective sleep ( r = 0.30, 95% CI [0.24, 0.36]). Compared to a control condition, self-compassion interventions ( n = 3) led to increases in sleep quality (Hedges’ g = 0.48, 95% CI [0.15, 0.82]; Butz and Stahlberg, 2020 ). It is evident that self-compassion is positively associated with ( Brown et al, 2021 ; Kim et al, 2021 ) and leads to ( Butz and Stahlberg, 2020 ) better sleep quality, but what is less well-known is how self-compassion leads to these effects.…”