The effects of self-compassion components on shame-proneness in individuals with depression: An exploratory study

To date, there is no evidence regarding how self-compassion's components, self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness could work as distinct interventions. Thus, the main objective of the present study was exploring the effects that the three separate components of self-compassion would have on shame-proneness levels in individuals with clinical depression. All the participants (n = 122) with a diagnostic of Major Depressive Disorder were randomized in four experimental groups: the self-kindness exercises group, the mindfulness exercises group, the common humanity one and the control group. Results indicated that levels of depression and shame-proneness, as measured by BDI-II, TOSCA-3 and ESS decreased from baseline to post-intervention, but no significant differences were observed between groups. Therefore, we cannot conclude that one self-compassion component is more efficient than the others, but the present study does offer, though, a strong starting point for more complex, future studies.