Effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training in the outskirts: A mixed study.
Flávia Cristiane Kolchraiber, Luiza Hiromi Tanaka, Lobsang Tenzin Negi and 2 others
PMID 35507959WHAT IT FOUND
Adults in vulnerable communities who took a compassion training reported greater self-compassion after training and at follow-up.
Stress and negative feelings also changed, but the study was small and mixed, so it does not prove clinical benefit.
Key findings
01Self-compassion increased in the intervention group from baseline to immediately after training and remained higher at three months.
02Negative affect decreased in the intervention group after training but increased again by three months.
03Perceived stress decreased over time, but the paper reported only a within-subjects effect and not a clear group-specific effect.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The final sample was 65 adults recruited as a convenience sample, and the authors state the sample was small. The study was the first CBCT study in this South American cultural context, so it may not apply to other settings. Some participants reported not doing the daily meditation practices throughout the week. The intervention included meetings, handouts, audio practices, a social networking group and daily meditation, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The control group continued several regular activities, including physical activities, art workshops, reading, cooking, permaculture and conversation circles. The authors call for longitudinal studies to validate long-term changes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that compassion training treats stress or anxiety. The study was small, outcomes were self-report, stress decreased over time in both groups, and the intervention included multiple components, so the clearest evidence is for self-compassion and affect measures.