Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Training on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases that involve a considerable part of society. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-compassion training on symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pre- and post-test design with control and experiment groups. The study population included high school female students in Khosrowshahr, East Azerbaijan, Iran. The sample consisted of 30 students who achieved the highest score in the screening test for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. They were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned into experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). Data were collected using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Questionnaire and analyzed through univariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that self-compassion training significantly reduced the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (P<0.05). Conclusion: Applying self-compassion training improves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in individuals.