A mindful compassion program delivered to lung cancer patients together with their caregivers reduced depressive symptoms more than a patient-only version, especially for younger patients and those with higher baseline quality-of-life symptom distress. Improvements in patients' mindfulness and self-compassion lowered depression by enhancing general health and reducing anxiety. Caregivers' self-compassion also helped reduce patients' depression by improving patients' quality-of-life functioning and decreasing anxiety. The findings suggest that such interventions can be tailored to individual patient needs, whether delivered dyadically or to patients alone.
Nurse self-care comprises three key abilities: mindfulness, self-compassion, and resilience. These abilities help nurses stay aware of body-mind-spirit distress and respond with kindness and empathy, even during adversity. Mindful self-compassion therapy, which includes mindfulness, self-compassion actions, and practices like gratitude and savoring, has been shown to reduce both occupational and compassion fatigue. Skills derived from this therapy, such as breathing exercises, body scanning, and self-compassionate language, help nurses consciously recognize work stress and take ameliorative actions.