A Brief Self-Compassionate Letter Writing Intervention for Individuals with High Shame

Abstract

Background: Shame is a painful human experience that is positively associated with self-criticism and psychopathology and negatively associated with self-compassion. Compassion-based interventions may be particularly helpful for treating shame and self-criticism. This randomized controlled pilot study examined a brief online self-compassionate letter writing intervention for individuals with high shame. Method: Participants were 68 undergraduates with high shame. Participants were randomly assigned to a 16-day self-compassionate letter writing intervention (n=29) or a waitlist control group (n=39). Participants completed baseline measures, post-assessment measures, and follow-up measures one month later. Results: Participants who received the self-compassionate letter writing intervention evidenced greater reductions in global shame, external shame, self-criticism, and general anxiety compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: This study examined the efficacy of self-compassionate letter writing as a stand-alone intervention for individuals with high shame. This brief, easily accessible and self-administered practice may be highly beneficial for a host of internalizing symptoms. Clinical implications are discussed.