Self-compassion and self-efficacy in healthy aging: a cross-sectional survey of 179 older adults in Turkey
In a cross-sectional survey of 179 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older in Turkey, self-efficacy was the most consistent correlate of health-promoting behaviors and quality of life; self-compassion and postural awareness were linked to fewer domains. The design cannot show that changing these resources would improve outcomes. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Of 280 people screened, 179 community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older in Turkey were included in the final cross-sectional analyses. [1]
In the quality-of-life model, self-efficacy was a positive predictor and geriatric pain a negative predictor, and the final model explained 61.4% of the variance. [1]
The authors state the findings do not establish that interventions targeting these resources would improve clinical outcomes. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional questionnaire study (abstract).
- Population / context
- Community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older in Turkey (179 analyzed of 280 screened).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 16, 2026
Survey of 179 older adults in Turkey
The study asked how self-compassion and self-efficacy relate to pain, postural awareness, health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults in Turkey. Of 280 people screened, 179 adults aged 65 or older entered the final analyses. Participants completed validated questionnaires, including a geriatric pain measure, self-compassion and self-efficacy scales, a postural awareness scale, a health-promoting lifestyle profile and a quality-of-life questionnaire. This was a cross-sectional study, so all measures were taken at one point in time.
Supporting source [1]
Self-efficacy strongest, pain negative for quality of life
Self-efficacy emerged as the most consistent predictor across outcomes. In the hierarchical model for quality of life, the final model explained 61.4% of the variance. Self-efficacy was a positive predictor, while geriatric pain was a negative predictor; health responsibility and interpersonal support also contributed. Self-compassion and postural awareness showed more domain-specific associations with pain and lifestyle behaviors. The abstract reports these as associations, not causal effects.
Supporting source [1]
Biopsychosocial assessment supported, interventions untested
The authors conclude that the findings support a biopsychosocial assessment approach in older adults. They state explicitly that the results do not establish that interventions targeting these resources would improve clinical outcomes. The abstract does not report follow-up, and the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a cross-sectional study, so it shows associations at one time point and cannot establish cause or that changing self-efficacy or self-compassion would improve outcomes. The abstract does not report follow-up.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Alaca N, Turhan S, Acar AÖ, Öztürk S. · europepmc.org · September 16, 2026