<![CDATA[The developmental transition of adolescence in 9th-grade students is frequently accompanied by heightened psychosocial pressures, such as academic workloads and anxiety regarding continuing higher education. To mitigate the risk of mental health disorders, internal capacity in the form of self-awareness and self-acceptance (self-compassion) becomes a crucial aspect to explore. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between self-compassion capabilities and stress levels among adolescents at SMP Negeri 3 Gondangrejo Karanganyar. Methods: The research design utilized a quantitative approach with a census method (total sampling) involving 95 respondents from 9th-grade students. Data collection was conducted from March to April 2026 using questionnaire instruments. Univariate analysis was applied to describe demographic characteristics, while bivariate analysis employed the Spearman's Rank ( ) correlation test. Results: The majority of respondents were female (53.7%), fell within the age range of 15 years old (47.4%), and lived with their parents (76.8%). Univariate analysis indicated that most students possessed a high level of self-compassion (85.3%) and experienced low levels of stress (74.7%). Based on the Spearman's Rho correlation test, the correlation coefficient was -0.310 with a significant p-value of 0.002 ( ). Conclusion: There is a significant negative relationship with a moderate correlation strength between self-compassion and stress levels in adolescents. Higher self-compassion capabilities in students correspond to lower experienced stress levels. These findings imply the importance of integrating self-compassion-based psychoeducation within educational institutions and optimizing community psychiatric nursing care to maintain the psychological stability of adolescents.]]>
