The effects of self‐compassion components on shame‐proneness in individuals with depression: An exploratory study

Abstract To date, there is no evidence regarding how self‐compassion's components, self‐kindness, common humanity and mindfulness could work as distinct interventions. Thus, the main objective of the present study was exploring the effects that the three separate components of self‐compassion would have on shame‐proneness levels in individuals with clinical depression. All the participants ( n = 122) with a diagnostic of Major Depressive Disorder were randomized in four experimental groups: the self‐kindness exercises group, the mindfulness exercises group, the common humanity one and the control group. Results indicated that levels of depression and shame‐proneness, as measured by BDI‐II, TOSCA‐3 and ESS decreased from baseline to post‐intervention, but no significant differences were observed between groups. Therefore, we cannot conclude that one self‐compassion component is more efficient than the others, but the present study does offer, though, a strong starting point for more complex, future studies.