The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression

Abstract

The effectiveness of two online exercises intended to help individuals experience (1) self-compassion (n ¼ 63) and (2) optimism (n ¼ 55) were compared to a control intervention where participants wrote about an early memory (n ¼ 70). A battery of tests was completed at 1 week following the exercise period, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Both active interventions resulted in significant increases in happiness observable at 6 months and significant decreases in depression sustained up to 3 months. The interventions were examined in relationship to dependency and self-criticism, both related to vulnerability to depression. Individuals high in self-criticism became happier at 1 week and at 1 month in the optimism condition in the repeated measures analysis. A sensitivity test using multi-level modeling failed to replicate this effect. More mature levels of dependence (connectedness) were related to improvements in mood up to 6 months in the self-compassion condition. This study suggests that different personality orientations may show greater gains from particular types of positive psychology interventions.

The Effectiveness of a Pilot Self-Compassion Program on Well Being Components

“…This confirms previous assertions (Albertson, Neff, & Dill-Shackleford, 2015;Gilbert & Irons, 2004;Neff & Costigan, 2014;Shapira & Mongrain, 2010;Smeets et al, 2014) arguing that self-compassion can be cultivated and learned through intervention programs.…”

The relationship of self-compassion and depression: Cross-lagged panel analyses in depressed patients after outpatient therapy

“…Although the results of the present study suggest that self-compassion is a rather stable trait with stability coefficients of about .80, an increasing number of intervention studies in clinical and subclinical populations (Albertson et al, 2014;Held and Owens, 2015;Jazaieri et al, 2014;Neff and Germer, 2012;Shahar et al, 2012;Shapira and Mongrain, 2010) show that fostering a self-compassionate attitude is possible. However, there is still a lack of research regarding the long-term stability of such changes.…”

The Efficacy and Acceptability of Third-Wave Behavioral and Cognitive eHealth Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Glick and Orsillo (2015) investigated the efficacy of Internet-delivered acceptance-based behavior therapy. CFT and CMT informed the remaining unguided Internet-delivered treatments (Kelly & Carter, 2015;Shapira & Mongrain, 2010).…”