Self-Compassion Induction Reduces Anticipatory Anxiety Among Socially Anxious Students

Self-compassion has been consistently linked to psychological well-being. This current study explored whether (a) inducing self-compassion would result in reduced state anxiety for a speech task and (b) whether this effect would be greater for individuals with high social anxiety, compared to those with low social anxiety. Undergraduate students (N = 118; high social anxiety n = 56; low social anxiety n = 62) were randomly assigned to a self-compassion writing or a control writing condition. Anticipatory anxiety (related to an upcoming speech) was measured. Only the participants with high social anxiety displayed lower levels of anticipatory anxiety in the self-compassion condition compared to the control condition. These results support the use of self-compassion practices for social anxiety.