The Effectiveness of Adolescent-Centered Mindfulness Training on Self-Compassion in Adolescent Boys with Psychological Insecurity
Keywords:
adolescent-centered mindfulness, self-compassion, psychological insecurity, adolescent boys, mindfulness-based interventionAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of adolescent-centered mindfulness training on self-compassion among adolescent boys experiencing psychological insecurity.
Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages, including an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population consisted of adolescent boys with psychological insecurity in the city of Isfahan during the 2022–2023 academic year. Using convenience sampling, 60 eligible participants aged 14–18 years were selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control (waitlist) group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of adolescent-centered mindfulness training delivered in a group format, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected at three time points using standardized self-report measures of psychological insecurity and self-compassion. The intervention emphasized age-appropriate mindfulness practices, emotional awareness, acceptance, and compassion-based exercises. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance to examine within-group and between-group differences over time.
Findings: Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of time on self-compassion, indicating meaningful changes across assessment points. A significant time × group interaction effect was observed, demonstrating that changes in self-compassion were significantly greater in the adolescent-centered mindfulness group compared with the control group. In addition, a significant between-groups effect indicated that the experimental group reported higher self-compassion scores overall than the control group. Effect size indices suggested moderate to large intervention effects, and statistical power values indicated robust reliability of the findings.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that adolescent-centered mindfulness training is an effective intervention for enhancing self-compassion in adolescent boys with psychological insecurity and may serve as a valuable preventive and therapeutic approach for promoting adolescent psychological well-being.
Downloads
References
Abarkar, Z., Ghasemi, M., Mazhari Manesh, E., Mehdibeygi Sarvestani, M., Moghbeli, N., Rostamipoor, N., Seifi, Z., & Bakhshi Ardakani, M. (2023). The effectiveness of adolescent-oriented mindfulness training on academic burnout and social anxiety symptoms in students: experimental research. Annals of medicine and surgery, 85(6), 2683-2688. https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000000811
Aboobaker, S., Jangam, K. V., Sagar, K. J. V., Amaresha, A. C., & Jose, A. (2019). Predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among Indian adolescents, A clinic-based study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 104-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2018.12.002
Andrews, J. L., Ahmed, S. P., & Blakemore, S. J. (2021). Navigating the social environment in adolescence: The role of social brain development. Biological Psychiatry, 89(2), 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.012
Beato, A. F., da Costa, L. P., & Nogueira, R. (2021). "Everything is Gonna be alright with me": The role of self-compassion, affect, and coping in negative emotional symptoms during coronavirus quarantine. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 2017. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042017
Burdick, D. (2014). Mindfulness for kids & teens: A workbook for clinicians & clients with 154 Tools, techniques, activities & worksheets. Wisconsin: PESI Publishing & Media. https://books.google.com/books?hl=fa&lr=&id=GbQ7BgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=Mindfulness+for+kids+%26+teens:+A+workbook+for+clinicians+%26+clients+with+154+Tools,+techniques,+activities+%26+worksheets&ots=Ssnm4XTm7O&sig=PeVann15t76Kx569x4NXQyPisjM
Büyüköksüz, E., & Kayaalp-pehlivan, R. (2025). Psychological Inflexibility, Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Self-Compassion, and Anxiety in Adults: A Serial Mediation Model. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 12(1), 107-134. https://doi.org/10.21666/muefd.1643883
Crego, A., Yela, J. R., Gómez-Martínez, M. Á., Sánchez-Zaballos, E., & Vicente-Arruebarrena, A. (2025). Long-term effectiveness of the Mindful Self-Compassion programme compared to a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention: a quasi-randomised controlled trial involving regular mindfulness practice for 1 year. Frontiers in psychology, 16, 1597264. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1597264
Davoodi, R., & Colleagues. (2019). A comparative study on the effectiveness of adolescent-centered mindfulness therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and emotion-focused therapy on emotion regulation in adolescent girls with nomophobia symptoms. Journal of Health Promotion Management, 8(4). https://jhpm.ir/article-1-1014-fa.html
Emirza, E. G., & Bilgili, N. (2024). The effect of mindfulness-based empowerment program on self-compassion, self-esteem and ways of coping with stress of women experienced violence: A randomised controlled study. International journal of mental health nursing, 33(6), 2314-2325. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13401
Gao, Y., Liu, X., Liu, J., & Wang, H. (2023). The effects of self-criticism and self-compassion on adolescents' depressive symptoms and nonsuicidal self-injury. Psychology research and behavior management, 16, 3219-3230. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S417258
Karimkhani, S., & Khoshnavis, M. K. (2021). The impact of mindfulness-based training on self-compassion and emotion regulation in overweight girls. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies, 2(2 (Sequential 3)), 1-10. https://www.sid.ir/paper/1000306/fa
Khoury, B., Lesage, M., Kasprzyk, A., & et al. (2025). Embodied and Embedded Mindfulness and Compassion Framework. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02561-4
Kokkonen, P., Athanasopoulou, C., Leino-Kilpi, H., Puukka, P., & Sakellari, E. (2023). Adolescents' difficulties, strengths and feelings of insecurity: a cross-sectional descriptive survey in Finland. Discov Ment Health, 3(17). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-023-00043-4
Leahy, R. L., Tirch, D., & Napolitano, L. A. (2022). Emotion regulation in psychotherapy. Mansouri Rad A. Tehran: Arjmand. https://dokumen.pub/emotion-regulation-in-psychotherapy-a-practitioners-guide-9781609184834-2011014843.html
Leppma, M., & Darrah, M. (2024). Self-efficacy, mindfulness, and self-compassion as predictors of math anxiety in undergraduate students. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 55(4), 883-898. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2022.2054740
Lestari, N., Efendi, F., Qur'aniati, N., & Yunara, Y. (2023). Mindfulness therapy on adolescent's anxiety and depression: A systematic review. Media Ilmu Kesehatan, 12(2), 153-156. https://doi.org/10.30989/mik.v12i2.862
Luna, S., & Rodríguez-Carvajal, R. (2025). The Predominant Effect of a Mindfulness Intervention on Contingent Over Explicit Self-Esteem and the Key Role of Self-Compassion. Self and identity, 24(3), 141-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2025.2451794
Minaei. (2022). The effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on reducing anxiety and enhancing self-compassion in adolescents. Applied Family Therapy, 3(2), 517-530. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.3.2.27
Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2023). Self-esteem and self-compassion: A narrative review and meta-analysis on their links to psychological problems and well-being. Psychology research and behavior management, 16, 2961-2975. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S402455
Neff, K. D. (2023). Self-compassion: Theory, method, research, and intervention. Annual review of psychology, 74, 193-218. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047
Peter, A., Srivastava, R., Agarwal, A., & Singh, A. P. (2022). The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on anxiety and resilience of the school going early adolescents with anxiety. Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 18(2), 176-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/09731342221127959
Solahi Isfahani, N., & Izadi, R. (2023). A comparative study on the effectiveness of adolescent-centered mindfulness therapy and emotion regulation strategy training on risk behaviors, mental wandering, and depression in adolescents. Sadra Medical Sciences Journal, 12(1), 25-40. https://doi.org/10.30476/smsj.2024.96095.1356
Taormina, R., & Sun, R. (2015). Antecedents and Outcomes of Psychological Insecurity and Interpersonal Trust Among Chinese People. Psychological Thought, 8, 173-188. https://doi.org/10.5964/psyct.v8i2.143
Tatiana, B., Kobicheva, A., Tokareva, E., & Mokhorov, D. (2022). The relationship between students' psychological security level, academic engagement and performance variables in the digital educational environment. Education and Information Technologies, 27, 9385-9399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11024-5
Tsai, S. J., Hsu, J. W., Huang, K. L., Bai, Y. M., Su, T. P., Chen, T. J., & Chen, M. H. (2023). Risk of parental psychiatric disorders among adolescents with major depressive disorder according to response to antidepressant treatment: does the type of antidepressant matter. CNS Spectrums, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852922001213
Wild, M. G., Coppin, J. D., Mendoza, C., Metts, A., Pearson, R., & Creech, S. K. (2025). Self-compassion, mindfulness, and emotion regulation predict multiple dimensions of quality of life in US post-9/11 veterans. Quality of Life Research, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-025-03908-
Williams, R., Andreassi, S., Moselli, M., Fantini, F., Tanzilli, A., Lingiardi, V., & Laghi, F. (2023). Relationship between executive functions, social cognition, and attachment state of mind in adolescence: An explorative study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(4), 2836. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042836
Yazdani, M., Esmaeili, M., & Namdari, K. (2017). The effectiveness of positive mindfulness training on self-compassion in adolescent boys with depressive symptoms. Journal of Positive Psychology Research, 3(4), 65-76. https://doi.org/10.22108/ppls.2018.110411.1389
Zhang, X., Wang, J., Wang, Y., Wang, J., & Luo, F. (2025). The Effects of Mindfulness on Shame: Exploring Mediation by Cognitive Flexibility and Self‐Compassion in a Chinese Adult Population. PsyCh Journal, 14(2), 277-289. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.817
