SynthesisScientific reports2025
Compassion for others and well-being: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review of family carers' experience of compassion when caring for older adults.BMC geriatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Addressing Existential Distress Through Compassion: Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Compassion With You (COMwithU), a Compassion-Based Intervention for Patients With Cancer.Psycho-oncology · 2026Article
- Higher mindfulness and lower self-absorption predict greater compassion within romantic relationships.Communications psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Compassion has been shown to improve well-being across multiple settings. While the link between self-compassion and well-being is well-established, findings on compassion for others have been more mixed. Using a multilevel approach, this meta-analysis of 54 effect sizes examined the relationship between compassion for others and well-being. The results revealed a moderate, statistically significant positive association (r = .26), suggesting that compassion for others contributes meaningfully to overall well-being. This relationship was consistent for psychological well-being, cognitive well-being, social well-being, and positive affect, whereas the results were weaker for negative affect. Furthermore, results showed that this relationship is not moderated by age, gender, or region. In addition, we examined if there is a causal relationship between compassion for others and well-being examining six effect sizes for state and trait compassion interventions. The results showed moderate improvements in well-being following compassion-based training, indicating promising but preliminary evidence for a causal effect. However, the absence of consistent control group comparisons limits firm conclusions about causality. This meta-analysis presents the first rigorous synthesis of evidence linking compassion for others to well-being, highlighting compassion for others as a distinct and meaningful contributor.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.