A Pilot Study of the 8-Week Mindful Self-Compassion Training Program in a Chinese Community Sample

Abstract

The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to explore the potential of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program for reducing psychological distress and increasing compassion in a Chinese community sample. Self-report data on measures of compassion and psychological distress were collected at pre-test (N = 49), post-test (N = 44), and 3-month follow-up (N = 35) among a convenience sample of Chinese women (mean age = 36.6 years). Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), and maladaptive perfectionism was investigated as a potential moderator of the effects of time on outcomes. Significant main effects of time were observed for mean scores on self-compassion, compassion for others, fears of self-compassion, rumination, depression, anxiety, and stress, and these changes were maintained at follow-up. These relationships were not moderated by perfectionism. Effect size calculations indicated large effect sizes for all outcomes, indicating that the MSC program holds promise for increasing compassion and reducing psychological distress among Chinese females. Further research is required to demonstrate the efficacy of this program relative to control conditions, using more representative samples.