Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Based Training on Reducing Suicidal Thoughts and Death Anxiety in Chronic Pulmonary Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Based Training (SCMT) in reducing suicidal thoughts and death anxiety among patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test format and a control group. The statistical population consisted of 150 patients who visited the Chronic Pulmonary Disease Association during the first six months of 2024. From this population, 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 eight 90-minute online SCMT sessions. The instruments included the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) via SPSS version 26. The findings indicated that self-compassion training significantly reduced suicidal thoughts (η² = 0.61, F = 40.85, p < 0.001) and death anxiety (η² = 0.54, F = 28.91, p < 0.001) in the experimental group. These effects were associated with medium to large effect sizes, indicating a meaningful impact of the intervention on improving patients' suicidal ideation and death anxiety. The final conclusion suggests that self-compassion training can serve as a cost-effective and efficient intervention strategy for reducing suicidal ideation and death anxiety in patients with chronic pulmonary conditions. Integrating this intervention into comprehensive care programs for these patients is recommended.