This qualitative study examines how Muslim students develop and experience self-compassion while attending a Christian university. Through narrative analysis, the study explores the emotional, social, and cognitive processes that shape their self-concept, resilience, and identity navigation within a religiously different institutional setting.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
Participants will gain insight into how self-compassion serves as a mechanism for Muslim students navigating identity tensions within a predominantly Christian university. Discussion will focus on emotional resilience, self-acceptance, and the ways students cultivate inner kindness amid religious and cultural differences.
This session will examine how Christopher Germer’s five constructs of self-compassion (aversion, curiosity, tolerance, allowing, and friendship) manifest in the lived experiences of Muslim students. Attendees will explore how these constructs contribute to personal growth and coping mechanisms in challenging environments.
Participants will evaluate how peer relationships, faculty interactions, and campus culture influence Muslim students’ sense of belonging. The session will address how self-compassion contributes to resilience in negotiating faith identity in a religiously distinct educational space.
