The Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Therapy on Self-Esteem, Social Skills, and Communication Skills in Children
Keywords:
self-compassion therapy, self-esteem, social skills, communication skills, preschool childrenAbstract
The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of self-compassion therapy on self-esteem, social skills, and communication skills in preschool children. The present study employed a quasi-experimental design using a pretest–posttest format with a control group and a follow-up phase. The statistical population consisted of preschool children in Karaj in 2025, from which 30 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received a structured self-compassion intervention across ten sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Self-Esteem Questionnaire (Azizi Moghaddam, 2007), the Social Skills Questionnaire (Matson et al., 1983), and the Communication Skills Questionnaire (Queen Dam, 2004). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), after verifying statistical assumptions such as normality, homogeneity of variances, and homogeneity of covariance matrices. The results of ANCOVA indicated that, after controlling for pretest scores, there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in posttest self-esteem (F = 502.27, p < 0.001, η² = 0.91), social skills (F = 184.12, p < 0.001, η² = 0.85), and communication skills (F = 871.26, p < 0.001, η² = 0.95). These findings demonstrate that the self-compassion intervention had a significant positive effect on all three variables. The large effect sizes suggest that a substantial proportion of variance in posttest scores was attributable to the intervention. Furthermore, the stability of these effects was supported by follow-up results, indicating the stability. The findings suggest that self-compassion therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing self-esteem, social skills, and communication skills in preschool children, with sustained effects over time. By promoting emotional regulation, self-acceptance, and interpersonal awareness, self-compassion training contributes to both intrapersonal and interpersonal development, supporting its integration into early childhood educational and psychological programs.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Aida Zakizade (Author); Giti Hematirad
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