Self-compassion as an Emotional Regulation Strategy in Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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Author
DeHerrera, Jordan M.
Publisher
Washburn University
Sponsor
Department of Psychology
Issue Date
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Abstract
Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as the first-line treatment for the disorder; however, further investigation into the key mechanisms maintaining core aspects of GAD is needed to increase the efficacy of treatment for this disorder. The current study examines the effectiveness of self-compassion as an emotional regulation strategy in individuals with GAD symptoms. College students who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) according to a questionnaire (n = 44) and college students who denied problematic worry (n = 24) were compared on measures of self-compassion and emotion dysregulation following an anxious mood induction in the lab. The GAD group was found to report less self-compassion and more emotion dysregulation than the control group, consistent with the hypotheses. All participants were then randomized to a self-compassion (n = 34) or control condition (n = 34). Participants in the control group had stable state self-compassion from pre-intervention to post-intervention while participants in the self-compassion group experienced a significant increase in state self-compassion. Participants in the control group did not change in state emotion dysregulation from pre-intervention to post-intervention. In contrast, participants in the self-compassion group endorsed significantly less state emotion dysregulation from pre-intervention to postintervention.