Dispositional Self-Compassion and Mindfulness in a Saudi Community Sample
International Journal of Psychological Studies November 19, 2025 DOI: 10.5539/ijps.v17n4p55 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 595 |
| Population | Saudi adults from the general community |
| Measures | Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Saudi adults reported above-average dispositional self-compassion and mindfulness, with no significant gender differences in total scores. Men scored higher on one mindfulness facet and lower on the self-compassion overidentification subscale; women scored higher on observing and lower on nonreactivity. Participants reporting psychological issues showed lower total self-compassion and mindfulness. |
Abstract
Background: Self-compassion and mindfulness are psychological constructs positively associated with well-being; however, they remain under-examined within the Saudi and Arab contexts.
Aims: The study aimed to examine levels of dispositional self-compassion and mindfulness in Saudi society and to explore variations by health status and sociodemographic factors.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 595 Saudi adults from the general community, utilising the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ).
Results: The participants exhibited above-average dispositional self-compassion and mindfulness. No significant gender differences were observed in total SCS and FFMQ scores. However, males scored higher on the mindfulness subscale and lower on the overidentification subscale of the SCS. Regarding the FFMQ subscales, males showed lower observing scores and higher nonreactivity scores than females. Participants reporting psychological issues showed lower levels of both total self-compassion and mindfulness.
Discussion: The results were interpreted in light of specific cultural aspects of Saudi society, specifically collectivism and religion.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |