Becoming Self-Compassionate Step by Step — a Field Study on the Effect of Long-Distance Walking on Self-Compassion in Hikers Traveling the Camino Francés

A longitudinal field study found that hiking the Camino Francés significantly increases self-compassion among hikers, with effects persisting for at least six months. The increase was stronger in those who walked longer distances and experienced critical life events. Self-compassion also proved to be a stronger predictor of mood and life satisfaction over time than vice versa. The study suggests long-distance walking as an effective means to foster self-compassion, potentially useful in compassion training programs. Retrospective data further supported these findings, with a larger effect size (d = 0.56) compared to prospective measurements (d = 0.22).

Steininger, Y., Braun, A., & Morgenroth, O. (2022). Becoming Self-Compassionate Step by Step — a Field Study on the Effect of Long-Distance Walking on Self-Compassion in Hikers Traveling the Camino Francés. Mindfulness, 14(1), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-02056-6