Physical Activity and Self-Compassion: A Systemic Review

Physical activity (PA) and self-compassion (SC) have been shown to positively impact mental and physical health. Findings from a prior review provided evidence of the positive effect of PA on SC. The increased interest and published studies in this area in recent years are not surprising. Since the last review, we have experienced surges in stress and inactivity as well as a global pandemic. Thus, the aims of the current review are to provide an update on the state of the science for PA activity and SC, pinpoint gaps and advances, and provide future directions for this burgeoning literature. A total of 10 recent studies, with n = 6808 participants, were reviewed, including 7 non-experimental and 3 experimental studies. Most (6 out of 7) of the non-experimental studies reported a significant association between SC and PA or related variables in varying populations. Overall, this review corroborated past findings on the relationship between SC and PA, highlighted the extension of this work to new populations and physical activities, and identified interesting emerging trends. A better understanding of how these critical components of self-care “work” could help dramatically improve quality of life and have important public health implications, especially in our post-pandemic world.