Investigating the efficacy of a compassion-focused intervention to enhance positive well-being in needy and self-critical individuals

The current study examined the effectiveness of 1 week online therapeutic interventions comprised of daily writing exercises intended to help individuals experience self-compassion. The self-compassion exercise was examined in relationship to self-criticism and neediness, two personality styles found to potentiate a higher vulnerability to major depression, to determine its efficacy in enhancing well-being and protecting those vulnerable against depressive symptoms (Blatt et al., 1995; Mongrain & Leather, 2006). This exercise was compared to another active condition also expected to enhance mood but lacking the self-compassion component. Regardless of intervention, all participants evidenced significant improvements in happiness and depressive symptoms after 1 week. Over 3 months, self-critics experienced a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and increases in self-compassion. Those high on neediness became happier over the 3 month period. There were no significant advantages of the self-compassion condition over the other intervention except for increases in feelings of compassion towards the self.