The Effect of Self-Compassion on Shame in Post-Event Processing

Post-event processing (PEP) refers to negative and repetitive thinking following anxiety-inducing social situations and is a maintaining factor in social anxiety. Research has shown that state shame predicts PEP, beyond trait and state social anxiety. Therefore, it may be important for interventions to target shame during the post-event period. Self-compassion interventions have shown promise for PEP, and therefore, the primary purpose of the present study was to examine whether a self-compassion intervention reduces state shame during the post-event period. Participants (N = 73) completed a variety of baseline trait measures: social anxiety, depression, post-event processing, self-compassion, self-esteem, and shame. They then recalled a difficult social situation (e.g., presentation, first date, etc.) and rated their state PEP and shame in relation to that situation. They were then randomly assigned to a self-compassion writing intervention (n = 36) or control condition (n = 37). Following this, they rated their shame about the recalled situation and willingness to communicate in future social situations. Those in the self-compassion intervention reported significantly less shame post-intervention than those in the control condition. However, the two groups did not significantly differ on willingness to communicate in future social settings. Unexpectedly, the effect of the self-compassion intervention on shame or willingness to communicate was not moderated by trait social anxiety (or other baseline variables). The findings from the present study provide further evidence of the importance of shame in post-event processing. Given these findings, it may be beneficial to target shame in therapeutic settings, and self-compassion represents one effective avenue for doing so.