The Effectiveness of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention Program on Self-Compassion, Positive and Negative Affect and Life Satisfaction

Archontia Mantelou,Eirini Karakasidou

doi:10.4236/psych.2017.84038

Abstract

Self-compassion (Neff, 2003b) is a newly developed construct of positive psychology while a plethora of studies has highlighted its beneficial outcomes on people’s psychological prosperity. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a brief self-compassion training program on self-compassion, life satisfaction and positive and negative affect as well as to contribute new knowledge by investigating whether changes in self-compassion can significantly predict changes in positive affect. A sample of 42 students of Social Sciences, randomly assigned to either the intervention (N = 20) or the control group (N = 22) group where the first group participated in a psycho-educational training program aiming to train them to be more self-compassionate in challenging situations whilst the control group received no training. The results that revealed through the three different questionnaires (Self-Compassion Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Scale) that both groups completed before and after the completion of the program, showed that the intervention group indeed indicated increases in self-compassion, life satisfaction as well as positive affect scores and decrease in negative affect scores, compared to the control group which reported no changes. Furthermore, participants’ increases in self-compassion levels strongly predicted increases in positive affect levels, meaning that those who are high self-compassionate have also high positive affect. These findings suggest the importance of self-compassion on psychological well-being, testing through the implementation of specific intervention programs. Other possible implications and recommendations for future research are also considered.

Highlights

IntroductionAs Germer (2009) stated, “compassion comes from the Latin roots com (with) and pati (suffer)” (p. 33)
First of all, as Germer (2009) stated, “compassion comes from the Latin roots com and pati” (p. 33)
This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a brief self-compassion training program on self-compassion, life satisfaction and positive and negative affect as well as to contribute new knowledge by investigating whether changes in self-compassion can significantly predict changes in positive affect

Summary

Introduction

As Germer (2009) stated, “compassion comes from the Latin roots com (with) and pati (suffer)” (p. 33). According to Neff’s (2003a, b) definition, self-compassion involves being kind, warm and standing with understanding toward yourself when you suffer, fail or feel inadequate, rather than criticizing and blaming yourself or ignoring the pain and negative feelings. Self-compassion entails three basic interacting components (Neff, 2003a; Neff, 2012): self-kindness versus self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation and mindfulness versus over-identification. Self-kindness is the ability to be warm and sympathetic to oneself when suffering, trying to soothe their pain instead of holding an angry and furious attitude. Mindfulness is about the uncritical attitude towards the thoughts, feelings and actions of a person without, trying to omit them or—as Guy Armstrong (as cited in Germer, 2009) emphasized—“knowing what you are experiencing while you are experiencing it”

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