A benchmarking study of mindful self-compassion and acceptance and commitment therapy for Self-compassion and psychological Well-being

Mental health and well-being of university students have significantly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging research highlights selfcompassion as a promising, modifiable resilience factor in managing stress and uncertainty. Additionally, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been suggested to enhance self-compassion. This study investigates the effectiveness of group Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and ACT interventions in improving selfcompassion and mental health outcomes among university students. We also examined how ACT and MSC group trainings compare in fostering these outcomes. The sample comprised 73 university students (mean age = 26.89, SD = 6.24), 87.5% of whom were female. Participants in the ACT (n = 24) and MSC (n = 49) groups completed eight 90-minute sessions and were assessed with questionnaires after each session. Results showed significant changes in psychological symptoms, self-compassion, emotion dysregulation and life satisfaction in the MSC group and significant changes in compassion towards others in the ACT group. These results suggest that MSC may be particularly effective in enhancing psychological well-being and self-compassion. The implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed.