The Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Based Therapy on Health-Oriented Lifestyle and Mindfulness in Students with Psychological Distress

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of self-compassion-based therapy on a health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness in students with psychological distress.Methods and Materials: The study was applied in purpose, utilized a quasi-experimental method, and employed a pretest-posttest control group design with a three-month follow-up period. The population consisted of all female medical science students in Tehran during the academic year ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱, from which ۳۰ participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of ۱۵ (۱۵ in the experimental group and ۱۵ in the control group). Data were collected using the Lovibond and Lovibond's (۱۹۹۵) Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Walker et al.'s (۱۹۸۷) Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills by Baer et al. (۲۰۰۴). Gilbert's (۲۰۰۹) self-compassion-based therapy sessions were conducted over eight sessions, twice a week for four weeks, each session lasting ۹۰ minutes in a group setting. Data were analyzed through covariance analysis.Findings: The results showed that self-compassion-based therapy was effective in improving a health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness among the experimental group students with psychological distress compared to the control group students with psychological distress.Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, health professionals can utilize self-compassion-based therapy to improve the health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness in students with psychological distress.Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of self-compassion-based therapy on a health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness in students with psychological distress. Methods and Materials: The study was applied in purpose, utilized a quasi-experimental method, and employed a pretest-posttest control group design with a three-month follow-up period. The population consisted of all female medical science students in Tehran during the academic year ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱, from which ۳۰ participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of ۱۵ (۱۵ in the experimental group and ۱۵ in the control group). Data were collected using the Lovibond and Lovibond's (۱۹۹۵) Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Walker et al.'s (۱۹۸۷) Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills by Baer et al. (۲۰۰۴). Gilbert's (۲۰۰۹) self-compassion-based therapy sessions were conducted over eight sessions, twice a week for four weeks, each session lasting ۹۰ minutes in a group setting. Data were analyzed through covariance analysis. Findings: The results showed that self-compassion-based therapy was effective in improving a health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness among the experimental group students with psychological distress compared to the control group students with psychological distress. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, health professionals can utilize self-compassion-based therapy to improve the health-oriented lifestyle and mindfulness in students with psychological distress.