A one-week online self-compassion training reduces self-criticism and pain endurance in adults with non-suicidal self-injury ideation: A randomized-waitlist controlled study

• Published in: Mindfulness 2022-05, Vol.13 (5), p.1232-1245
• Main Authors: Drabu, Sukriti, Sündermann, Oliver, Hong, Ryan Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Critical thinking; Emotions; Females; Mindfulness; Original Paper; Pain; Pediatrics; Psychology; Psychopathology; Public Health; Self compassion; Self destructive behavior; Social Sciences; Stigma; Writing
• ISSN: 1868-8527; 1868-8535
• DOI: 10.1007/s12671-022-01870-2

Objectives This study examined the efficacy of a brief online self-compassion training in reducing explicit and implicit self-criticism, pain endurance, and inclination to engage in self-harm among non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) engagers and ideators. Methods Sixty-three adults reporting presence of self-injurious thoughts or behaviors in the past year were randomly assigned to either a one-week self-compassion training group or a waitlisted control group. Results As compared to the control group ( n  = 33), the training group ( n  = 30) yielded significantly greater reduction in explicit self-criticism after a single session ( p  = .013, partial η 2  = .101) and significantly greater reduction in self-criticism ( p  = .001, partial η 2  = .170), and pain endurance ( p  = .004, partial η 2  = .130), as well as the explicit inclination to self-injure ( p  = .051, partial η 2  = .063) after the one-week training. The reduction in explicit self-criticism ( p  = .006, partial η 2  = .155) and inclination to self-injure ( p  = .04, partial η 2  = .105) was maintained at the two-week follow-up. Conclusions The findings provide suggestive evidence supporting the use of an online self-compassion training in reducing self-criticism and pain endurance in NSSI ideators. This study supports the potential use of brief online trainings in order to improve accessibility and adherence of treatment especially for individuals suffering from highly stigmatized conditions such as self-harm.