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The importance of self‐compassion in the context of medical problems has been highlighted in previous research. Its role in the psychological adjustment of cancer patients, however, has remained unexplored. The current study aimed at examining whether self‐compassion and self‐critical judgement would distinctively predict general psychopathological symptoms and quality of life in three distinct groups: a mixed sample of cancer patients (n = 63), patients with chronic illnesses (n = 68) and healthy subjects (n = 71).

Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between lower self‐compassion and increased depressive and stress symptoms, and lower scores in quality of life dimensions in the patients' samples. The opposite correlational pattern was found regarding self‐critical judgement. In the case of healthy subjects, these correlations were weaker or nonsignificant. Regression analyses …