title: Meeting suffering with kindness: effects of a brief self-compassion intervention for female college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the effectiveness of a newly developed 3-week self-compassion group intervention for enhancing resilience and well-being among female college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two students were randomly assigned to either an intervention designed to teach skills of self-compassion (n = 27) or an active control group intervention in which general time management skills were taught (n = 25). Both interventions comprised 3 group meetings held over 3 weeks. To measure resilience and well-being gains, participants filled out a number of questionnaires before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the self-compassion intervention led to significantly greater increases in self-compassion, mindfulness, optimism, and self-efficacy, as well as significantly greater decreases in rumination in comparison to the active control intervention. Whereas both interventions increased life satisfaction and connectedness, no differences were found for worry and mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that a brief self-compassion intervention has potential for improving student resilience and well-being.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: Madelon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000592:standards*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: college students; mindfulness; resilience; self-compassion; well-being