Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Training on Body Image Concern, Thought–Shape Fusion, and Body Compassion in Female Students with Body Image Concern

One of the concerns of women at a young age is physical appearance and body image. This study aimed to investigate. The effects of self-compassion training on body image concern thought–shape fusion and body compassion in female students with body image concerns. The study population included all Female Students Studying In, 1399 in the Second Secondary School of the 11 Grade in Ahvaz. Using the voluntarily-convenience sampling technique among the applicants, four students who had scores higher than two standard deviations from the mean in the Body Image Concern Questionnaire were selected. A non-concurrent multiple baseline experimental single-case study was used as the method of the present study. Participants before treatment, middle of treatment (sections 1, 3, 5, & 7), end of treatment (section 9), and one month after treatment had ended completed The Body Concern Inventory (BICI), Thought-Shape Fusion Scale (TSF) and Body Compassion Scale (BCS). Data analyzed with visuals inspection, improvement percentage, and reliable change index (RCI) strategies. The results showed a stable downward trend for BCI scores and TSF and BCS that reflects the effectiveness of SCT in these variables. Thought-shape Fusion and physical compassion have played an important role in expressing body image concerns in young girls, and compassion training can be effective in reducing their concerns about physical appearance.