Kindness Matters: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindful Self Compassion Intervention Improves Depression, Distress, and HbA1c Among Patients With Diabetes
OBJECTIVE Mood difficulties are common among patients with diabetes and are linked to poor blood glucose control and increased complications. Evidence on psychological treatments that improve both mood and metabolic outcomes is limited. Greater self compassion predicts better mental and physical health in both healthy and chronically ill populations. Thus, the purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the effects of self compassion training on mood and metabolic outcomes among patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This RCT tested the effects of a standardized 8 week mindful self compassion (MSC) program (n 32) relative to a wait list control condition (n 31) among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Measures of self compassion, depressive symptoms, diabetes specific distress, and HbA1c were taken at baseline (preintervention) at week 8 (postintervention) and at 3 month follow up. RESULTS Repeated measures ANOVA using intention to treat showed that MSC training increased self compassion and produced statistically and clinically significant reductions in depression and diabetes distress in the intervention group, with results maintained at 3 month follow up. MSC participants also averaged a clinically and statistically meaningful decrease in HbA1c between baseline and follow up of >10 mmol/mol (nearly 1% There were no overall changes for the wait list control group. CONCLUSIONS This initial report suggests that learning to be kinder to oneself (rather than being harshly self critical) may have both emotional and metabolic benefits among patients with diabetes.
Diabetes Care