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Table 8 Self-compassion exercises for emerging adults (18–25)

From: Virtual prevention of eating disorders in children, adolescents, and emerging adults: a scoping review

References

Type of study

Sample size

Intervention

Outcomes

Results

Toole and Craighead [53]

RCT

Undergraduate women endorsing body image or appearance concerns

n = 40 Intervention

n = 40 Waitlist control

Self-compassion meditation training: first received training in-person in a lab, then were emailed a link each day to a self-compassion meditation training podcast; asked to listen to podcasts (20 min each) daily for 1 week in a private space, ideally at the same time each day, and at a time when they felt alert

SCS, BAS, RSES, Body Surveillance and Body Shame subscales of OBCS, BSQ, CSW-Appearance, practice frequency, acceptability

No significant improvements in total self-compassion scores or body shame and body dissatisfaction after intervention, but intervention groups showed significantly greater pre-post changes on body appearance, appearance contingent self-worth scales, and body surveillance vs controls. Results suggest that brief exposure to self-compassion holds promise for improving aspects of self-compassion and body image distress; has the potential to be an acceptable and cost-effective method to reduce body image distress

Zeimer et al. [54]

RCT

Female undergraduate college students

n = 51 self-compassion writing

n = 50 traditional expressive writing

n = 51control

All groups had to write for 20 min once/week (online) for 3 consecutive weeks

Self-Compassion Writing: participants had to write about their body image and related experiences from a self-compassionate perspective (e.g., expressed understanding, kindness, and concern to themselves in a manner that a concerned friend may respond)

Traditional Expressive Writing: participants had to write about their deepest feelings associated with their body image

Control: participants had to describe the events of their day in a factual and detail-oriented way, focusing on information only rather than thoughts or feelings about the day’s events

BAS-2, Body Image Quality of Life Inventory, PANAS, 26-item Self-Compassion Scale

The self-compassion group experienced significantly greater increases in self-compassion (medium effect size) vs. traditional expressive and control groups; body appreciation and body image quality of life was mediated by self-compassion. Group differences were not significant for any other outcome variables (e.g., there were no differences between groups on positive body image or affect. All 3 groups had significant decreases in positive affect (small effect) and negative affect (medium effect)

  1. RCT randomized controlled trial, SCS self-compassion scale, BAS body appreciation scale, RSES Rosenberg self-esteem scale, OBCS objectified body consciousness scale, BSQ body shape questionnaire, CSW-Appearance contingencies of self-worth scale-appearance subscale, PANAS positive and negative affect schedule