Self-compassion in context: a reflexive thematic analysis of migrant domestic workers' experiences in Singapore.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) face adverse living and working conditions that place them at a heightened risk of poor mental health outcomes. While prior research has examined MDWs' coping strategies and resilience, little is known about how they understand and engage in self-compassion, an intrapersonal process strongly linked to mental well-being. This study aimed to examine how MDWs conceptualize self-compassion and the sociocultural factors that influence their capacity to practice it.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten female Filipino and Indonesian MDWs living in Singapore recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three interrelated themes were generated:

SUBMITTER: Lai Lin Rachel Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12818332 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature