The effect of self-compassion enhancement program on the self-compassion and self-forgiveness of university students

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Self-compassion Enhancement Program on the university students' self-compassion and self-forgiveness levels. Pre-test, post-test and follow-up experimental design with experimental and control group was used to examine the effectiveness of the program, with a sample of 28 students (n=14 for the experimental group; n=14 for the control group). Personal Information Form, Self-compassion Scale, and Heartland Self-forgiveness Subscale were used to collect data. The research was conducted with volunteer undergraduate students enrolled in Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling in Bursa Uludağ University. 46 students who got a score below the group average of Self-Compassion Scale were included and28 students were selected randomly to experimental (n=14) and control (n=14) groups. The Self-compassion Enhancement Program developed by the researcher was applied to the experimental group in 6 sessions while the control group received no treatment during that time. Six weeks after the program was completed, the follow-up test was carried out. Statistical analyses of the study were carried out by using SPSS 23.0 package program. Mann Whitney U Test was used for intergroup comparisons; Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Test were used for intra-group comparisons. According to the results of the study, it was found that experimental group's self-compassion level was significantly higher than the control group and follow-up measurements differed in favor of the experimental group. There was a significant increase in experimental group's self-compassion level after the program but there was no significant difference between follow-up test scores and post-test scores of the group, which meant the program was still effective. Also, there was a significant increase in the experimental group's self-forgiveness level after the program and this increase continued in the follow-up scores. However, there was no significant difference between both self-compassion and self-forgiveness pre-test, post-test and follow-up test scores of the control group. It was concluded that Self-compassion Enhancement Program was effective in increasing self-compassion and self-forgiveness.