The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) on Self-Criticism and Social Anxiety among Adolescents with a History of Domestic Violence

Authors
zahra mahmoodi meimandi
amineh jalali
Abstract
Domestic violence during adolescence can be associated with various psychological consequences, including increased self-criticism and social anxiety. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) on self-criticism and social anxiety among adolescents with a history of domestic violence in Kerman, Iran, in 2025. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of adolescents with a history of domestic violence in Kerman. Thirty participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Data were collected using the Self-Criticism Questionnaire and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of Compassion-Focused Therapy, while the control group remained on a waitlist. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The results indicated that Compassion-Focused Therapy significantly reduced self-criticism and social anxiety among adolescents with a history of domestic violence compared with the control group (p < .05). These findings suggest that Compassion-Focused Therapy may serve as an effective intervention for reducing self-criticism and social anxiety among adolescents with a history of domestic violence.
Keywords
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
Domestic Violence
self-criticism
social anxiety
adolescents
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