Mapping compassion in the general adult population: religious and secular compassionate acts in social relationships and organizational culture

This study identifies receiving compassion as a valuable social and organizational resource, positioning it as a potential public health asset. Compassion strengthens social bonds within communities and workplaces, contributing to trust, cooperation, and resilience. Religious frameworks often interpreted compassion as sacred obligation, while secular frameworks emphasized fairness and civic responsibility, together illuminating compassion's versatility as both spiritual and civic resource. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data, broad framing of "organization," and a U.S.-based sample. Future research should employ longitudinal and observational designs to validate findings and explore how cultural contexts and intersecting identities shape interpretations of compassion.