Effects of Self-compassion on Diurnal Cortisol Pattern via Positive Affect in Colorectal Cancer Survivors

Abstract Objectives Colorectal cancer survivors are at risks of emotional distress and dysregulated diurnal cortisol rhythms. Dispositional self-compassion has been linked with better psychological adjustment greater positive affect. This study evaluated the associations between pattern, role affect in mediating this association, patients. Methods longitudinal recruited 127 Chinese colorectal survivors, who completed assessments for self-compassion, affect, distress, naturalistic salivary baseline. The participants follow-up after 2 months (time 2) pattern 8 3). Bootstrapped mediation analysis analyzed direct indirect effects on via distress. Results A structural equation model latent factors self-criticism, provided an adequate fit to data. self-criticism were not significant ( p = 0.11–0.50). Positive but time significantly predicted steeper slopes 3 (β − 0.22, SE 0.08, < 0.01). Self-compassion showed negative respectively. Conclusions Our findings support linkages may mediate temporal relationships neuroendocrine functioning survivors.