The effectiveness of self-compassion training on the intensity of chronic pain in women under domestic violence

Domestic violence is a serious issue throughout the world which affects many women regardless of their demographic characteristics. The experience of being exposed to violence puts women at greater risk of chronic pain syndrome and psychosomatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of self-compassion training on the severity of chronic pain in women subjected to domestic violence. It was conducted with a single-subject experimental method with A-B repetition along with the baseline and intervention steps. After the baseline, self-compassion training was conducted according to Gilbert's protocol for three participants. A visual pain assessment scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity. The results of the visual analysis showed that there was a significant reduction in chronic pain due to self-compassion training in all three participants from the baseline stage to the end of the treatment. According to the results, self-compassion training was effective on the severity of chronic pain in women subjected to domestic violence. Therefore, teaching self-compassion can be considered by psychologists and counselors as one of the ways to treat and prevent injuries caused by domestic violence in women under violence.