AUTHOR=Binder Per-Einar , Dundas Ingrid , Stige Signe Hjelen , Hjeltnes Aslak , Woodfin Vivian , Moltu Christian 

TITLE=Becoming Aware of Inner Self-Critique and Kinder Toward Self: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of Outcome After a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for University Level Students

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02728

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02728

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=This qualitative study investigated ways students participating in a three-session self-compassion course became, but found it challenging to become, more compassionate towards themselves. Ninety-six participants completed an online questionnaire and 12 participants were interviewed. Thematic analysis of the written responses identified five themes as most frequent: 1) being more supportive and friendlier towards self, 2) being more aware of being too hard on oneself, 3) feeling less alone when having painful feelings, 4) having more acceptance of  painful feelings, and 5) feeling more stable and peaceful . These themes were explored through phenomenological analysis of the interviews.