ObjectiveSelf-compassion is consistently found to be related to better psychological outcomes.As most studies were cross-sectional, little is known about the predictive role of selfcompassion for future psychological outcomes. This longitudinal study in cancer patients investigated the predictive role of self-compassion at the time of cancer diagnosis for the course of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue in the period of receiving cancer treatment. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted at the Shaanxi Provincial TumourHospital in Xi'an, China. A total of 153 heterogeneous cancer patients were assessed within 1 week after cancer diagnosis (T1) as well as at the start (T2) and the end (T3) of medical treatment. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the research questions.Results: Cross-sectional regression analyses at T1 showed that a self-compassion total score and negative self-compassion (and to a lesser extent positive selfcompassion) were significantly related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. When controlling for symptoms at T1, positive self-compassion significantly predicted all three outcomes at T3. A self-compassion total score only predicted symptoms of anxiety at T2, controlling for T1 symptoms. In contrast, we found no significant predictive value of negative self-compassion. Conclusions: This study suggests that the positive aspects of self-compassion are beneficial for cancer patients for their future functioning, in terms of fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue over time. Future interventions should test how and to what extent self-compassion can be cultivated and whether increases in self-compassion are associated with better outcomes. KEYWORDS cancer, oncology, positive and negative self-compassion, depression, anxiety, fatigue, longitudinal study Lei Zhu and Juntao Yao share the first coauthorship.

ObjectivesThe Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) is commonly used to assess depression stigma in the general population and in people with depression. The DSS includes two 9-item subscales assumed to measure personal depression stigma (ie, personal perceptions of depression) and perceived depression stigma (ie, perceptions of how others perceive depression). The aim of the present study was to examine its psychometric properties in terms of validity and reliability in Chinese cancer patients.DesignA cross-sectional study design.Participants and settingsThis study focused on 301 Chinese cancer patients recruited from two hospitals in Xi’an, China.MethodsExploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the factor structure. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. To examine concurrent validity, symptoms of depression were used as the criterion.ResultsFor each subscale of the DSS (ie, personal and perceived depression stigma), the EFA and CFA confirmed a two-factor structure: weak-not-sick (ie, perceiving that depression is not a real illness, but rather a sign of weakness) and discrimination (ie, perceiving that depressed people are discriminated against). The Cronbach’s alphas were adequate, ranging from 0.70 to 0.80. Symptoms of depression were positively but weakly correlated to personal and perceived depression stigma.ConclusionsThe DSS appeared to show satisfactory psychometric properties in our sample of cancer patients. Both personal depression stigma and perceived depression stigma subscales consisted of two underlying aspects.

Objectives Self-compassion is related to psychological outcomes. By examining wholistic concept of self-compassion, previous research has overlooked the possibility that people may differ in combination of positive self-compassion and selfcoldness. This study, using a person-centered approach, aimed to identify subgroups of college students based on different profiles of positive self-compassion and self-coldness. We also examined how these profiles related to socio-demographic variables as well as psychological outcomes. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1029 Chinese college students. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect levels of positive self-compassion and self-coldness (including six facets) and psychological outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, negative affect, and positive affect). A latent profile analysis was performed to identify different profiles based on the six facets. The Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars approach was used to examine how profiles related to socio-demographic variables and psychological outcomes. Results Five distinct profiles were identified: high self-coldness, low self-compassion (16.2%), high self-compassion, low self-coldness (17.2%), average self-compassion, average self-coldness (38.9%), low self-compassion, low self-coldness (17.5%), and high self-compassion, high self-coldness (10.2%). Older people tended to report high self-compassion, high self-coldness profile, and females tended to have high self-coldness, low self-compassion profile. People with high selfcompassion, low self-coldness profile reported the best psychological outcomes, whereas those in high self-coldness, low self-compassion and high self-compassion, high self-coldness profiles experienced the worst outcomes. Conclusions We identified five subgroups with different combinations of the six facets of self-compassion and self-coldness. People with distinct profiles differed on psychological outcomes. Future research is needed to adopt longitudinal design and replicate our findings in different groups.

Objectives The protective role of self‐compassion in cancer patients' psychological outcomes has been confirmed. However, using a composite score of self‐compassion, previous research could not clarify how distinct components of self‐compassion may mutually interact. This study, using a person‐centred approach, aimed to identify profiles of self‐compassion in cancer patients and examined the associations of self‐compassion profiles with sociodemographic and medical variables and psychological outcomes. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 289 patients with heterogeneous cancer types recruited from two hospitals in Xi'an, China. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct profiles of self‐compassion. The Bolck‐Croon‐Hagenaars approach was used to examine how these profiles related to sociodemographic and medical characteristics and psychological outcomes. Results Five profiles of self‐compassion were identified: ‘average self‐compassion’ (54%), ‘high self‐compassion’ (19.4%), ‘low self‐compassion and low self‐coldness’ (11.4%), ‘high self‐compassion and high self‐coldness’ (8%), and ‘average self‐compassion and high self‐coldness’ (7.2%). Patients with the ‘high self‐compassion’ profile tended to be older and report no cancer recurrence, and those with the ‘low self‐compassion and low self‐coldness’ profile tended to be female. Patients with the ‘high self‐compassion’ profile reported the fewest depressive and anxiety symptoms while patients with the ‘average self‐compassion and high self‐coldness’ profile reported the most depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions The study revealed five self‐compassion profiles in cancer patients, which had different psychological outcomes. Future longitudinal research should investigate the causality between self‐compassion profiles and psychological outcomes.

Objectives: This study aimed to (a) identify the different patterns of perceived barriers to psychological treatment in Chinese college students with depression and (b) determine whether self-compassion and depression severity distinguished individuals with different patterns.Methods: This study included 338 college students with depression. The perceived barriers to psychological treatment scale were used. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify the differential patterns.Results: Results of LPA indicated four patterns of perceived barriers, which differed with respect to levels and patterns, namely, "low barriers" (31%, n = 105), "moderate barriers" (45%, n = 153), "attitudinal and availability barriers" (18%, n = 61), and "high barriers"(6%, n = 19). Self-compassion (particularly, negative self-compassion) and depression severity distinguished participants with the four patterns.Conclusions: A small number of participants reporting high levels across different types of barriers deserve special attention because they would be less likely to seek professional help. K E Y W O R D Sbarriers to psychological treatment, college students with depression, depressive symptoms, latent profile analysis, self-compassion