{
  "abstract": "Successes and failures shape affective experiences and self-esteem. Self-compassion has been proposed as a protective factor, allowing individuals to acknowledge both strengths and shortcomings without excessive self-criticism. However, the mechanisms through which self-compassion influences changes in affect and self-esteem remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally tested whether self-compassion modulates the links between performance feedback, affective experience and performance self-esteem. Participants completed an effortful performance task and received trial-by-trial feedback while repeatedly rating their positive affect, and reported on their state self-esteem both before and after the task. Results showed that self-compassion buffered against declines in performance self-esteem among poorly performing individuals, predicted higher overall positive affect throughout the task, and was associated with increased post-task performance self-esteem. Moreover, performance feedback predicted positive affect, and positive affect predicted post-task performance self-esteem, although these pathways were not moderated by self-compassion. Together, these findings add to the growing evidence of how self-compassion impacts positive affect and performance self-esteem, and may inform treatment strategies for clinical populations characterized by low self-esteem or heightened self-criticism.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Luebeck, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Lübeck, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jan F. Weis",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-5075-4088"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sören Krach",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4834-8378"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Frieder M. Paulus",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8113-7265"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "David S. Stolz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7239-7268"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cxcgdmt26wn89.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1098/rsos.260044",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cxcgdmt26wn89",
  "issns": [
    "2054-5703"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260044/483419/Self-compassion-is-linked-to-positive-affect-and",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3203|Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7160559734",
  "pdf_url": "https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article-pdf/doi/10.1098/rsos.260044/6167802/rsos.260044.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "The Royal Society",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cxcgdmt26wn89.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:45Z",
      "native_id": "10.1098/rsos.260044",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260044/483419/Self-compassion-is-linked-to-positive-affect-and"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:3203|Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Self-compassion is linked to positive affect and buffers declines in self-esteem",
  "title_text": "Self-compassion is linked to positive affect and buffers declines in self-esteem",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cxcgdmt26wn89",
  "venue": "Royal Society Open Science",
  "versions": []
}