Abstract
Objectives
Future-oriented coping and self-compassion have demonstrated promising benefits for psychological well-being, but the effects of self-compassion interventions have not been adequately examined in Chinese samples. Moreover, the role of self-compassion in enhancing future-oriented coping remains unclear. This study aimed to test the effects of a group-based self-compassion intervention on future-oriented coping and psychological distress with a randomized controlled trial using a sample of Chinese college students.
Methods
A total of 69 participants were randomized into an intervention group (N = 32) and a waitlist-control group (N = 37). Self-compassion (including positive and negative self-compassion), future-oriented coping (including proactive coping and preventive coping), and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed at the baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up.
Results
The intervention group evidenced an increase in self-compassion and future-oriented coping as well as a decrease in depression and stress compared to the control group. The enhancement of proactive coping played a mediating role in the intervention’s effects on depression and stress.
Conclusions
This study provided evidence regarding the effects of self-compassion intervention on future-oriented coping. Future studies can further investigate the role of proactive coping as a mechanism of change in self-compassion interventions.
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Funding
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31700961), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2017A030310423), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Sun Yat-sen University (20wkzd13).
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JH: designed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper. KL: designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses. LF: collaborated with the design. SQ: collaborated in writing the paper. YW: supervised the whole study and collaborated in writing and editing the paper. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Review Board of Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University (201703030039) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Huang, J., Lin, K., Fan, L. et al. The Effects of a Self-Compassion Intervention on Future-Oriented Coping and Psychological Well-being: a Randomized Controlled Trial in Chinese College Students. Mindfulness 12, 1451–1458 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01614-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01614-8