The Effectiveness of Compassion-Based Therapy on Rumination, Self-Criticism and Negative Automatic Thoughts of Students Experiencing Love Failure

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of self-compassion therapy on rumination, self-criticism, and negative automatic thoughts of university students experiencing heartbreak. The research method was applied in relation to the objective and the design of the present study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and a control group design. The statistical population included all students of Islamic Azad University of Hamadan in the academic year 2019-2020, of which 30 subjects were selected through purposive sampling and randomly divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group (7 females and 8 males in each group). Participants were tested before and after the study using the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), the Levels of Self Criticism Scale (SSAS), and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATTQ). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and SPSS-24 software. The results of the present study showed that compassion-based therapy was effective on the components of rumination (P=0.001), the components of self-criticism (P=0.001), and the negative automatic thoughts (P=0.001) of students with experiences of love failure. Self-compassion training helps these individuals to accept themselves in any situation, which reduces self-criticism and the experience of rumination and automatic thoughts in these individuals in critical situations. Based on the results of the present study, it is suggested that workshops titled “Self-Compassion” be held for students with heartbreak.

Keywords

• automatic thoughts
• self-criticism
• compassion
• love failure
• rumination