Effects of an ACT-based intervention on university students’ self-compassion and psychological well-being

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an ACT intervention, Korsa, on university students' self-compassion and psychological well-being. We also explored whether self-compassion could mediate Korsa's well-being benefits. In this randomized controlled trial, 137 university students were randomly assigned to Korsa or a waitlist control condition. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires about their self-compassion and well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and presence of meaning). Results showed that compared to students on the waitlist, participants assigned to the Korsa intervention reported higher life satisfaction, meaning, and self-compassion at post-intervention. Exploratory analyses provided preliminary support for the hypothesis that enhancing self-compassion could be a promising mechanism through which Korsa may improve psychological well-being among university students. Bridging the self-compassion and ACT frameworks seems to be a fruitful avenue to advance knowledge about the various ACT benefits and its potential mechanisms of change.