Self-compassion focused cognitive behavioral psychoeducation program social anxiety, cognitive distortions, and its effect on self-compassion

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a self-compassion-based cognitive behavioral psychoeducation program on social anxiety, cognitive distortions, and self-compassion levels in individuals with social anxiety symptoms. The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design. The data collection tools included the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Cognitive Distortions Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Initially, 325 individuals were reached, and those who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Subsequently, individual interviews were conducted with 45 participants who scored 48 or above on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and volunteered to participate in the study, taking into account the DSM-5 criteria. Participants who met the study criteria were assigned to one of three groups: experimental, placebo, and waitlist. While the participants in the experimental group received a nine-session psychoeducation program based on a self-compassion-focused cognitive behavioral approach, the participants in the placebo group were given a communication-focused training. The participants in the waitlist group did not receive any intervention; only the measurement tools were administered. All participants were assessed at four time points: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, one month later, and two months later. The findings of the study revealed that the psychoeducation program based on the self-compassion-focused cognitive behavioral approach effectively reduced participants' social anxiety and cognitive distortion levels while increasing their self-compassion levels. These results provide significant evidence that a psychoeducational program based on a self-compassion-focused cognitive behavioral approach can be used as an effective intervention method for individuals exhibiting symptoms of social anxiety.