1 - (SYM 44) Daily Micropractice Can Augment Single Session Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Self-compassionate Touch

High levels of self-compassion predict reduced stress and psychopathology. Unfortunately, existing self-compassion interventions, although effective, can be time-intensive. In this pre-registered study, we evaluated the effects of a single-session, self-guided intervention, leveraging daily micropractice (≤20-seconds/day personal practice) of self-compassionate touch to enhance self-compassion. We randomly assigned undergraduates (N=135) to either a single-session intervention in which they were taught self-compassionate touch (SCT), or a finger tapping active control (AC), and then instructed them to practice for 20-seconds/day for one month. Participants completed assessments at baseline (T1) and one-month follow-up (T2). Analyses were pre-registered; data, code, and materials are public (osf.io/wq8mf/). We registered the protocol at ClinicalTrials.gov (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05199779). In intention-to-treat analyses, we found no effects on these outcomes (self-compassion [β=−0.05, p=.792], perceived stress [β=−0.08, p=.690], psychopathology [β=0.02, p=.889]). However, in confirmatory, per-protocol analyses (those who practiced >28 times, N=45), SCT, relative to AC, predicted T1-to-T2 increases in self-compassion (β=0.71, p=.025), and reductions in stress (β=−0.62, p=.047) and psychopathology (β=−0.61, p=.046). In exploratory intention-to-treat analyses (N=135), we found the same pattern of effects as the confirmatory per-protocol analyses among those who performed the SCT micropractice more frequently, relative to AC. (self-compassion (β=0.62, p=.001), perceived stress [β=−0.51, p=.008], psychopathology [β=−0.49, p=.010]). In other words, all participants demonstrated a conditional effect of practice frequency on SCT effects, in that more frequent practice predicted improvements in self-compassion, stress, and psychopathology. Thus, those participants assigned to practice self-compassionate touch for ≤20-seconds/day, relative to AC, and who did so frequently in between assessments, demonstrated benefits. Our findings are the first to our knowledge to show that daily self-compassionate touch can increase self-compassion. Our results also support the promise of a brief, single-session self-compassionate touch intervention, particularly if it is followed by regular practice afterwards. Daily micropractices have the potential for augmenting single-session interventions and for offering help when more time-intensive approaches may be less accessible.