Abstract
This study examined the influence of self-compassion on the quality of life of Filipino college students. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the research employed a descriptive-correlational design involving 400 undergraduate students (200 males and 200 females) from a private higher education institution in the Philippines. Data were gathered using the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF) and the Filipino version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL- BREF). Descriptive statistics, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were utilized to analyze the data. Results revealed that most respondents (56.8%) exhibited low levels of self- compassion. Further analysis indicated no significant difference in self-compassion when respondents were grouped according to sex, F(1, 363) = 0.314, p = .576. However, MANOVA results demonstrated a significant multivariate effect of self- compassion on quality-of-life domains (Pillai’s Trace = 0.137, F(4, 395) = 15.70, p <
.001), indicating that students with higher self-compassion reported significantly better physical, psychological, social, and environmental quality of life. These findings suggest that self-compassion serves as an important psychological resource that enhances students’ well-being and overall quality of life. The study contributes to the limited body of literature on self-compassion among Filipino college students and highlights the potential value of self-compassion-based interventions in promoting mental health and student well-being in higher education institutions.
