Self-Compassion Mediates the Relationship Between Social Support and Quality of Life in Cervical Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mao Liu,1,2 Jingyi Wang,2,3 Lei Luo2 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Neijiang First People’s Hospital, Neijiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nursing, Handan Central Hospital, Handan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lei Luo, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-189-0817-8852, Email [email protected]: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived social support and quality of life in cervical cancer patients, and to explore the mediating role of self-compassion between the two, so as to provide a reference basis for improving the quality of life of patients with cervical cancer.Methods: Convenience sampling method was used to select cervical cancer patients who attended a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province from May to October 2024 as study subjects. The Perceived Social Support Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, and Cervical Cancer Quality of Life Measurement Scale were used for data collection. AMOS 26.0 software was used to construct structural equation modeling to analyze the relationship between variables.Results: The total scores for perceived social support, self-compassion, and quality of life in cervical cancer patients were 42.22± 3.65, 98.38± 10.95, and 147.73± 11.17, respectively. Perceived social support was positively correlated with quality of life (P< 0.01), and self-compassion was also positively correlated with quality of life (P< 0.01). Self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and quality of life, accounting for 41.76% of the total effect.Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients have a moderate level of perceived social support and self-compassion, and a relatively high level of quality of life. Perceived social support can directly enhance or indirectly affect the quality of life of cervical cancer patients through self-compassion. Healthcare professionals can improve patients’ levels of self-compassion and quality of life by providing comprehensive social support.Keywords: cervical cancer, perceived social support, self-compassion, quality of life, mediating effect