Effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens (MSC-T) on Social Anxiety, Self-Criticism, and Resilience in Adolescents With Maladaptive Perfectionism: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of a Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens (MSC-T) program in reducing social anxiety and self-criticism and in increasing resilience among adolescents with elevated social anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism.
Methods and Materials: Eighty-four adolescents aged 13–18 years were recruited from urban schools and randomly assigned to the MSC-T group (n = 42) or a wait-list control group (n = 42). The MSC-T intervention included eight weekly 90-minute group sessions. Primary outcomes—social anxiety, self-criticism, and resilience—were measured at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 8-week follow-up (T3) using the SAS-A, FSCRS-SF, and CD-RISC-10 scales. Mixed repeated-measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons evaluated group × time interactions. Clinically meaningful improvements were calculated for all outcomes.
Findings: Significant time × group interactions were observed for all outcomes (p < .001). MSC-T participants showed substantial reductions in social anxiety (T1–T2 Δ = 13.35, T1–T3 Δ = 16.24), self-criticism (T1–T2 Δ = 9.68, T1–T3 Δ = 11.12), and increased resilience (T1–T2 Δ = −6.55, T1–T3 Δ = −7.40, where negative indicates higher resilience). Effect sizes were large (ηp² = 0.27 for social anxiety, 0.22 for self-criticism, 0.18 for resilience). Clinically meaningful improvement rates at post-intervention were higher in MSC-T than control: social anxiety 64.3% vs. 14.3%, self-criticism 59.5% vs. 11.9%, and resilience 54.8% vs. 9.5%, maintained at follow-up.
Conclusion: MSC-T is an effective, scalable group intervention for adolescents with social anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism, producing significant and durable reductions in social anxiety and self-criticism and increases in resilience. These results support integrating self-compassion training in school-based mental health programs.
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