Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Perceived Stress in Women With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies

Background: Mindfulness and self-compassion are increasingly recognized as psychological resources that may alleviate perceived stress among breast cancer survivors. However, their interrelationships have not previously been comprehensively synthesized. This systematic review evaluated quantitative evidence on the relationships among mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress in women with breast cancer.

Methods: This review was registered with PROSPERO. MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language quantitative studies published between 2009 and 2025. Eligible studies included adult women with breast cancer and examined at least two of the following variables: mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. Owing to substantial methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively.

Results: Twenty-four studies involving 2842 participants from 13 countries were included, comprising 18 intervention and 6 observational studies. Most intervention studies evaluated mindfulness-based approaches and generally reported reductions in perceived stress, although long-term effects were inconsistent. Observational studies consistently demonstrated inverse associations between mindfulness or self-compassion and perceived stress, with one notable exception. Only two studies simultaneously examined all three constructs, highlighting an important gap in the literature. Most included studies were rated as high methodological quality.

Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that mindfulness and self-compassion are associated with lower perceived stress among breast cancer survivors and supports the integration of these approaches into supportive cancer care. Future research should evaluate all three constructs within unified theoretical frameworks, examine long-term intervention effectiveness, and expand evidence from underrepresented populations.