Volume 99, Issue 1 p. 47-59
Research

Improving Women's Self-Compassion Through an Online Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Miranda M. Nadeau

Corresponding Author

Miranda M. Nadeau

Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin

Now at Austin Professional Counseling, Austin, Texas

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Miranda M. Nadeau, Austin Professional Counseling, 4407 Bee Caves Road, Suite 422, Austin, TX 78746 (email: mirandanadeauphd@gmail.com).Search for more papers by this author
Norian A. Caporale-Berkowitz

Norian A. Caporale-Berkowitz

Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin

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Aaron B. Rochlen

Aaron B. Rochlen

Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin

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First published: 10 December 2020
Citations: 4

Abstract

The benefits of self-compassion interventions have been well documented in the counseling literature. Despite these benefits, access to such interventions remains a considerable barrier for a range of populations. We addressed the issue of limited access by using a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an online, self-guided course on self-compassion specifically targeted toward women. Fifty-seven women were randomly assigned to receive immediate or delayed access to a 10-week course designed to increase self-compassion and reduce self-judgment, shame, and perfectionism. Analysis of the data revealed that participants in the treatment condition experienced significant increases in self-compassion and decreases in self-judgment, shame, and perfectionism compared with participants in the wait-list group. Results provide evidence that self-compassion can be fostered in a nonclinical population of women through participation in a self-paced online course. Related findings and potential implications, including the use of such interventions to address accessibility concerns, are discussed within the existing literature.

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