The Study of The Effect of Cognitive Self-Compassion on Mental Well-Being and Social Competence of Students with Depression

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive self-compassion on mental well-being and social competence of students with depression. The present study was a semi-experimental design with pre-test-post-test and follow up with the control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all students of depressed girl who referred to educational counseling centers of Poldokhtar city in 2019-2020. Using the sampling method, 30 of them (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) were selected after the diagnosis of depression and then the clinical interview. The instruments used in this study were Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, Subjective Well-Being Tant & Associates, and Social Fellner and Associates. The experimental group received cognitive self-compassion training in 8 sessions per hour. After completing the training sessions, both groups were tested and re-tested and again two months later, from both groups. The data were analyzed using multivariate and single-variable covariance analysis using SPSS-21 software. In the experimental group, a significant increase in mental well-being and social competence was observed after receiving the training. These results were maintained at the follow up stage. According to the results, cognitive self-compassion education is recommended for increasing the amount of mental well-being and social competence in students with depression disorders.

Keywords

• cognitive self-compassion
• subjective well-being
• social competence
• depression