Currently submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Apr 15, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: May 4, 2026 - Jun 29, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Compassion From Others and Its Influence on Loneliness in University Students: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Narrative Synthesis Protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a major public health concern in higher education with nearly one in four students feeling lonely most or all of the time, with 80% reporting moderate-to-severe loneliness. Compassion from others, defined as receiving warmth, care, and understanding, may buffer loneliness. Yet, many students may struggle with receiving compassion due to shame, self criticism, and fear of compassion, which hinder their capacity to engage in supportive relationships.
Objective:
The proposed scoping review (ScR) aims to map the existing literature on compassion from others and its relationship to loneliness among university students, clarify conceptual boundaries, identify psychological and institutional influences, and highlight gaps to inform future research and intervention development.
Methods:
This protocol for the scoping review follows PRISMA ScR guidance. Eligibility criteria are structured using the PI(E)COS framework. Searches in the final scoping review (ScR) will be conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, ProQuest, CINAHL and Google Scholar. This protocol proposes the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley with enhancements from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for use in the anticipated scoping review. Jointly and consistent with Joanne Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for ScR, we will aim to map the breadth and nature of existing research; therefore, no critical appraisal or risk of bias assessment will be undertaken, as these are not required for scoping reviews unless justified by specific objectives
Results:
The ScR protocol will document the predicted tools for mapping definitions and measures of compassion from others; the prevalence and correlates of loneliness; psychological barriers, such as shame and threat sensitivity; and institutional contributors, such as academic culture and supervisory relationships.
Conclusions:
This ScR protocol provides the initial outline of the future ScR methods of compassion from others research in higher education. Findings will support the development of compassionate academic environments that foster students’ sense of belonging and reduce their loneliness. Clinical Trial: OSF portal with access from the link https://osf.io/4tnqc/overview
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