A meta-analysis of self-compassion and attachment in adults

Attachment might shape the extent to which a person is self-compassionate. Despite the plethora of research examining attachment and self-compassion, no previous systematic review has quantified the magnitude of the associations between self-compassion and different attachment dimensions.

Random-effects meta-analyses examined the magnitude of the associations of self-compassion with anxious, avoidant, and secure attachment, using correlational effects (r-value). Moderator analyses tested whether the effects varied as a function of participant age, sex, population type (students vs. community sample) and attachment measure used within studies.

A systematic search of the literature using SCOPUS, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases retrieved 37 eligible studies.

The meta-analyses revealed a medium effect size for the positive association between self-compassion with secure attachment, r_avg = .395, 95% CI [0.248, 0.524], and medium and small effect sizes for the negative associations with anxious attachment, r_avg = -.282, 95% CI [-0.329, -0.233], and avoidant attachment, r_avg = -.280, 95% CI [-0.320, -0.240]. Moderator analyses indicate that the magnitude of associations with avoidant attachment varied as a function of participant age and population type (students vs. community samples).

The findings suggest differential associations between self-compassion and attachment dimensions. Self-compassion was positively associated with secure attachment, while the reverse was found for insecure attachment. Negative associations between self-compassion and avoidant attachment were larger for older individuals. Ageing populations may be vulnerable to lower self-compassion when already more prone to experiencing avoidant attachment. Compassion-focused therapy may be an effective therapeutic option when working with individuals reliant on anxious or avoidant attachment dimensions.