Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image

Background: Adolescent girls often struggle with negative body image, leading to rumination and distress. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential of self-compassion therapy (SCT) to mitigate rumination and bolster distress tolerance in adolescent girls experiencing body imag...

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Main Authors: Fatemeh Masoudizadeh, Fariba Hafezi, Sahar Safarzadeh, Zahra Dasht Bozorgi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-04-01
Series:Women’s Health Bulletin
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Online Access:https://womenshealthbulletin.sums.ac.ir/article_50708_f5ac3af2aeded7ac8a9b37b27ee64e7b.pdf
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author Fatemeh Masoudizadeh
Fariba Hafezi
Sahar Safarzadeh
Zahra Dasht Bozorgi
author_facet Fatemeh Masoudizadeh
Fariba Hafezi
Sahar Safarzadeh
Zahra Dasht Bozorgi
author_sort Fatemeh Masoudizadeh
collection DOAJ
description Background: Adolescent girls often struggle with negative body image, leading to rumination and distress. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential of self-compassion therapy (SCT) to mitigate rumination and bolster distress tolerance in adolescent girls experiencing body image concerns.Methods: This experimental study comprised all adolescent girls in Ahvaz, Iran, who reported body image concerns in 2023. A sample of 30 adolescent girls was drawn using multi-stage cluster sampling and then randomly allocated to either an experimental (n=15) or a control (n=15) group. Data collection was facilitated using the Ruminative Response Scale and Distress Tolerance Scale. The experimental group participated in a ten-week structured self-compassion training (SCT) program, with one 60-minute session per week. The control group received no intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to assess the impact of SCT on the dependent variables, using SPSS version 25.Results: At pre-test, both groups reported similar levels of rumination (SCT group: M=64.53, SD=7.59; control group: M=68.26, SD=9.46) and distress tolerance (SCT group: M=31.06, SD=6.86; control group: M=32.06, SD=5.23). After the 10-week SCT intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in rumination (M=36.26, SD=5.57) and a significant increase in distress tolerance (M=66.60, SD=5.02) compared with the control group (P<0.001). SCT was found to be effective in significantly reducing rumination and increasing distress tolerance in adolescent girls with body image concerns (P<0.001).Conclusion: SCT has demonstrated its efficacy in mitigating rumination and enhancing distress tolerance among adolescent girls confronting body image challenges. The study findings underscored the potential of SCT as a promising intervention for this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-1b544f819a4045f28a389e5f9e8ecb7d2025-08-20T02:54:35ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesWomen’s Health Bulletin2345-51362382-99902025-04-0112212913610.30476/whb.2025.104550.132250708Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body ImageFatemeh Masoudizadeh0Fariba Hafezi1Sahar Safarzadeh2Zahra Dasht Bozorgi3Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranBackground: Adolescent girls often struggle with negative body image, leading to rumination and distress. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential of self-compassion therapy (SCT) to mitigate rumination and bolster distress tolerance in adolescent girls experiencing body image concerns.Methods: This experimental study comprised all adolescent girls in Ahvaz, Iran, who reported body image concerns in 2023. A sample of 30 adolescent girls was drawn using multi-stage cluster sampling and then randomly allocated to either an experimental (n=15) or a control (n=15) group. Data collection was facilitated using the Ruminative Response Scale and Distress Tolerance Scale. The experimental group participated in a ten-week structured self-compassion training (SCT) program, with one 60-minute session per week. The control group received no intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to assess the impact of SCT on the dependent variables, using SPSS version 25.Results: At pre-test, both groups reported similar levels of rumination (SCT group: M=64.53, SD=7.59; control group: M=68.26, SD=9.46) and distress tolerance (SCT group: M=31.06, SD=6.86; control group: M=32.06, SD=5.23). After the 10-week SCT intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in rumination (M=36.26, SD=5.57) and a significant increase in distress tolerance (M=66.60, SD=5.02) compared with the control group (P<0.001). SCT was found to be effective in significantly reducing rumination and increasing distress tolerance in adolescent girls with body image concerns (P<0.001).Conclusion: SCT has demonstrated its efficacy in mitigating rumination and enhancing distress tolerance among adolescent girls confronting body image challenges. The study findings underscored the potential of SCT as a promising intervention for this vulnerable population.https://womenshealthbulletin.sums.ac.ir/article_50708_f5ac3af2aeded7ac8a9b37b27ee64e7b.pdfself-compassionruminationdistressadolescentwomen
spellingShingle Fatemeh Masoudizadeh
Fariba Hafezi
Sahar Safarzadeh
Zahra Dasht Bozorgi
Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
Women’s Health Bulletin
self-compassion
rumination
distress
adolescent
women
title Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
title_full Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
title_fullStr Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
title_full_unstemmed Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
title_short Self-Compassion Therapy as a Transformative Intervention for Adolescent Girls’ Body Image
title_sort self compassion therapy as a transformative intervention for adolescent girls body image
topic self-compassion
rumination
distress
adolescent
women
url https://womenshealthbulletin.sums.ac.ir/article_50708_f5ac3af2aeded7ac8a9b37b27ee64e7b.pdf
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