The Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy on Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression

Mehran Farhadi; Haniyeh Rahimi; Mohammad Reza  Zoghi Paydar; Mosayeb  Yarmohamadi Vasel

doi:10.18502/ijps.v18i2.12364

Mehran Farhadi Department of Psychology, Faculty Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
Haniyeh Rahimi Department of Psychology, Faculty Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar Department of Psychology, Faculty Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
Mosayeb Yarmohamadi Vasel Department of Psychology, Faculty Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v18i2.12364

Keywords: Attitude; Depression; Dysfunctional; Self-Compassion; Therapy; Vulnerability

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of self-compassion-focused therapy on cognitive vulnerability to depression as one of the causes of the onset or recurrence of depressive episodes in people who were not depressed at the time of the research but were cognitively susceptible to depression.

Method: The statistical population included all students of Bu-Ali Sina University in 2020. The sample was selected through the available sampling method. First, 52 people were screened, and finally, by random assignment, 20 people were placed in the experimental group and 20 people in the control group. The experimental group underwent compassion-focused therapy for eight 90-minutes-long sessions. The instruments included the Attributional Style Questionnaire, the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, the Cognitive Triad Inventory, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the 2ⁿᵈ edition Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that self-compassion-focused therapy was effective in terms of cognitive vulnerability to depression (P < 0.01, F = 22.78), dysfunctional attitudes (P < 0.01, F = 15.53), self-esteem (P < 0.01, F = 30.07), general attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 11.41), stable attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 14.48) and internal attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 12.45).

Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that self-compassion-focused therapy can reduce cognitive vulnerability to depression. It seems that this has been achieved through the regulation of emotional systems and the increase of mindfulness, which leads to the reduction of safety-seeking behaviors and the modification of cognitive patterns that take place around the axis of the compassionate mind.