The synergy between stress and self-compassion in building resilience: A 4-year longitudinal study

Abstract

This 4-year prospective study investigated the dynamic relationship between stress, self-compassion, and resilience among university students, a population with increasing rates of mental health challenges. Drawing on stress theories, the research explored whether the combination of stress and self-compassion strengthens resilience over time. A sample of 1137 university students (47.6% White, 38% female) completed measures of stress, resilience, and self-compassion annually during the Spring semester across their four undergraduate years. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model with latent interactions was used to test the hypothesized causal relationships. Contrary to the common belief that stress is debilitating, the results revealed a positive association between an increase in stress and a subsequent increase in self-compassion. Moreover, when stress levels increased alongside self-compassion, students demonstrated higher resilience. Notably, an increase in either stress or self-compassion alone did not enhance resilience. These findings highlight the synergetic effect between self-compassion and stress in enhancing resilience; under the right conditions, stress can lead to positive outcomes and increased capacity for coping with future stressors.