Self-compassion has been shown to be protective against stress. Whether its stress buffering effect differs between cancer caregivers and non-caregivers is unknown. This study examined the moderating effect of self-compassion among cancer caregivers relative to non-caregivers by recruiting cancer caregivers from the hospital and a community sample matching on sex and age. Participants completed a questionnaire which comprised the self-reported anxiety (STAI-6) and self-compassion (SCS-SF) measures, and administered cortisol sample collections with Salivette tubes at home. Whereas caregivers experienced higher diurnal cortisol level, the differential protective effects of self-compassion were only present against anxiety symptoms but not physiological stress.
Keywords: anxiety; caregivers; empathy; physiological stress; self-compassion.