Self-compassion

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-compassion training on reducing loneliness and improving health-related quality of life in infertile women. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving 30 infertile women recruited from a specialized infertility treatment center. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) receiving eight sessions of self-compassion training or a control group (n = 15) with no intervention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at a five-month follow-up using the Loneliness Questionnaire and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Findings: The experimental group showed significant reductions in loneliness from pre-test (M = 45.32, SD = 6.45) to post-test (M = 30.21, SD = 5.28) and follow-up (M = 31.12, SD = 5.34), while the control group remained stable. Health-related quality of life significantly improved in the experimental group from pre-test (M = 62.45, SD = 7.34) to post-test (M = 78.53, SD = 6.78) and follow-up (M = 77.95, SD = 6.65), with minimal changes in the control group. ANOVA results indicated significant time and group interactions for both loneliness (F(2, 56) = 67.03, p < .001, η² = .71) and health-related quality of life (F(2, 56) = 113.20, p < .001, η² = .80). Conclusion: Self-compassion training is effective in reducing loneliness and improving health-related quality of life in infertile women. These benefits were sustained at the five-month follow-up, highlighting the long-term potential of self-compassion interventions in supporting the psychological well-being of infertile women.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of self-compassion and marital self-regulation on marital adjustment among married women attending counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. It sought to enrich the understanding of how these psychological constructs contribute to marital satisfaction and stability. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 350 married women selected through available sampling from various counseling centers in Tehran. Measures included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess marital adjustment, the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003) for evaluating self-compassion levels, and a 16-item scale by Wilson et al. (2005) for measuring marital self-regulation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, with linear regression analyses performed to explore the relationships between the constructs. Findings: The findings revealed that both self-compassion and marital self-regulation significantly predicted marital adjustment among the participants. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion and marital self-regulation were associated with better marital adjustment. The regression model explained 37% of the variance in marital adjustment scores, highlighting the substantial impact of these factors on marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical importance of self-compassion and marital self-regulation in fostering marital adjustment. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing these psychological resources could contribute significantly to improving marital satisfaction and relationship stability among couples, particularly those seeking counseling services.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the fit of a structural model of death anxiety and self-acceptance based on psychological flexibility and differentiation, with the mediating role of self-compassion in the elderly. Methods and Materials: The research method was fundamental, descriptive, and correlational in nature. The statistical population consisted of all individuals aged 60 years and above residing in daily elderly care centers in Nowshahr and Chalous counties from February 2024 to August 2024 (N = 232). Due to the limited size of the population, a census method was used, and research questionnaires were distributed to all members of the population. Ultimately, due to damaged or incomplete questionnaires, data from 215 questionnaires were analyzed (n = 215). The research instruments included the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (1970), the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire by Chamberlain and Haaga (2001), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (Bond et al., 2007), the Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron and Friedlander (1998), and Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (2003). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26 and LISREL 8 software. Findings: Pearson correlation analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between differentiation and self-compassion (r = 0.645, p < .01); a negative and significant relationship between differentiation and death anxiety (r = -0.411, p < .01); a positive and significant relationship between differentiation and self-acceptance (r = 0.700, p < .01); a negative and significant relationship between self-compassion and death anxiety (r = -0.352, p < .01); and a positive and significant relationship between self-compassion and self-acceptance (r = 0.846, p < .01). Path analysis revealed that the indirect path from differentiation to death anxiety through the mediating role of self-compassion was statistically significant (β = -0.629, p < .01). Furthermore, the indirect path from differentiation to self-acceptance through self-compassion was also statistically significant (β = 0.861, p < .01). Conclusion: Thus, the structural model of death anxiety and self-acceptance based on differentiation with the mediating role of self-compassion demonstrated a good fit among elderly individuals residing in daily care centers in Nowshahr and Chalous. These findings may serve as a basis for developing comprehensive therapeutic models to enhance psychological well-being among the elderly. Keywords: Death Anxiety, Self-Acceptance, Differentiation, Self-Compassion, Elderly.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. The disease is clinically defined by the involvement of different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) at various times. Its peak incidence is between the ages of 20 and 40. The experience of pain plays an important role in the mental health and quality of life of MS patients. Research also shows that if MS patients have high levels of self-compassion, they can more easily manage negative situations. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training programs on the perception of pain experience and self-compassion in MS patients. Method: >The current research is an experiment with available sampling methods. The sample includes 40 MS patients, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Mindfulness training programs (Kabat—Zinn), the McGill Pain Experience Scale (MPQ), and the NF Self-Compassion Questionnaire (SCS-LF) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed through the statistical test of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: >The results showed that the average difference between the groups regarding pain experience (F=49.270) and self-compassion (F=51.249) is significant. Therefore, it can be said that increasing self-compassion leads to higher efficiency in facing stressful situations. Conclusion >: Enhancing cognitive processes, particularly self-compassion, through mindfulness training can significantly influence individuals’ perception of pain. It is recommended that families receive appropriate training to develop strategies aimed at strengthening mindfulness skills in individuals.  

Social well-being is an important aspect of health that has not been given due attention so far. Especially in the teachers' group, who play an important role in nurturing the country's future leaders, and the need to pay attention to this issue is felt. Accordingly, the aim of the present study is to determine the role of optimism and self-compassion in teachers' social well-being. The method of conducting the research was descriptive correlational research. The statistical population of this study consisted of all teachers (male and female) in the primary school of Nimroz city, of whom 148 people were selected using a random stratified sampling method according to the Cochran formula. The research tools used were three questionnaires: optimism (Scheyer and Carver, 1985), self-compassion (Neff et al., 2012), and social well-being (Keyes, 2011). Linear and stepwise regression, Pearson correlation coefficient, were used to analyze the research hypotheses. The results showed that optimism and self-compassion were able to significantly predict the social well-being of teachers in Nimroz city. Among the components of optimism, the component of intrinsic optimism and among the components of self-compassion, the component of self-kindness played the most important role in the social well-being of teachers. Also, a significant relationship was observed between optimism and self-compassion and its components with the social well-being of teachers.