Evaluation of the effectiveness of self-healing training on self-compassion, body image concern, and recovery process in patients with skin cancer

Abstract

Background and purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of self-healing training on self-compassion, body image concern, and recovery process in patients with skin cancer.

Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 34 volunteers who were purposefully selected and then randomly divided into experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 18) groups. The research instrument included the Self-Compassion Scale and Body Image Concern Inventory. The self-healing training intervention was then performed on the experimental group for twelve 90-min sessions. Finally, both groups underwent the post-test. Follow-up was performed two and four months after the post-test.

Results: Self-healing training significantly increased self-compassion, including self-kindness, self-judgment, and sense of common humanity (p < 0.01), and decreased the level of body image concern, isolation, and over-identification (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The self-healing is an appropriate intervention method to increase self-compassion and reduce body image concern and thus accelerate the process of skin cancer recovery.

Keywords: Body image concerns; Self-compassion; Self-healing training; Skin cancer.