Effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens on Social Anxiety, Self-Criticism, and Resilience in Adolescents With Elevated Social Anxiety and Maladaptive Perfectionism
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Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens (MSC-T) in reducing social anxiety and self-criticism and increasing resilience among adolescents with elevated social anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism.
Methods and Materials: In this randomized controlled trial, 84 adolescents aged 13–18 years were assigned to MSC-T (n = 42) or a wait-list control group (n = 42). The intervention consisted of eight weekly 90-minute group sessions. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 8-week follow-up using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale–Short Form, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale-10. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat mixed repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons.
Findings: Significant time × group interactions were found for social anxiety (F = 29.88, p < .001, ηp² = .27), self-criticism (F = 23.52, p < .001, ηp² = .22), and resilience (F = 18.41, p < .001, ηp² = .18). In the MSC-T group, social anxiety decreased from 63.21 to 49.86 and 46.97, self-criticism from 42.95 to 33.27 and 31.83. Resilience increased from 22.81 to 29.36 and 30.21 at posttest and follow-up, respectively. Clinically meaningful improvement rates were significantly higher in MSC-T than in control at both posttest and follow-up (all p < .001).
Conclusion: MSC-T was effective in producing sustained reductions in social anxiety and self-criticism and increasing resilience in adolescents with maladaptive perfectionism.
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