Mapping the evidence of self-compassion in caregiver wellbeing for caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease: A scoping review.

Objectives: Caregivers of those with neurodegenerative disease (ND) manage complex symptoms which impact their wellbeing. Self-compassion can promote maintenance of wellbeing during challenging experiences, including caregiving. Little guidance exists for observationally studying self-compassion or targeted interventions for this population. Our objective was to complete a scoping review of research describing self-compassion in the context of caregiver wellbeing of caregivers of those living with ND.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 3 online databases identified 350 peer-reviewed articles, 18 of which were included in this study. Eligibility included being written in English, targeting caregivers of those living with ND, and examination of self-compassion. Articles were organized by the incorporation or characterization of self-compassion in the study design.

Results: Alzheimer's disease predominated study samples of care recipients. Across study types self-compassion appeared as a theoretical concept, emerging theme, variable associated with other outcomes, and main outcome variable. Self-compassion is frequently measured using the Self-Compassion Scale, full or short form .

Significance of results: The study of self-compassion with caregivers of individuals living with ND is growing. Current literature is somewhat unfocussed, leading to gaps in understanding conceptualization to achieve maximum intervention benefits. Clarifying the role of self-compassion in caregiver wellbeing will provide a lens through which non-pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, and behavioral intervention development may be framed to reduce negative psychological outcomes. The most frequently represented ND is Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, obscuring other NDs like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and others.