Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

The Effectiveness of Compassion Therapy on Body Image Perception in Individuals with Leprosy in Tabriz

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Imaneh Elbeigy Zanganeh 1
Ameneh Sadat kazemi 2
Narges Rasouli 3
1 M.A. Student, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. )Corresponding author)
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/mjms.2024.82555.4757
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of compassion therapy on body image perception in individuals with leprosy in the city of Tabriz. The research employed a semi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all individuals with leprosy in Tabriz in 2024. After clinical interviews and considering inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental (16 individuals) and control (16 individuals) groups. Both groups were assessed using the McKinley and Hyde Body Image Perception Questionnaire (1996). The experimental group received eight sessions of compassion therapy over two months, with one 90-minute group session per week. At the end of the treatment period, both groups completed the body image perception questionnaire again. The data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis. The results indicated a significant difference in body image perception between the experimental and control groups in individuals with leprosy (P<0.01). After the treatment, the level of body image perception (body shame and body surveillance) in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to the pretest and the control group. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that compassion therapy influences body image perception in individuals with leprosy. These results highlight the potential of this method as an effective treatment for body image perception in leprosy patients.
Keywords
Compassion Therapy
Body Image Perception
Leprosy
  1. Gonzalez, A. B, et al. Leprosy: Current situation and challenges. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2021; 21(1), 42-48.
  2. Gilbert P. Compassion-focused therapy: Preface and introduction for special section. Br J Clin Psychol. 2014 Mar; 53(1):1-5.
  3. Neff K D, & Germer CK. A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the Mindful Self-Compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2013; 69(1), 28-44.
  4. Sirois F M, et al. Mindfulness and self-compassion in the management of chronic pain and illness. Journal of Psychology and Health. 2015; 30(1), 21-39.
  5. Kirby J N, et al. Compassion: The science and practice of nurturing health and well-being. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 2017; 13, 405-429.
  6. Kelly AC., et al. Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in women: A randomized controlled trial of a brief meditation intervention. Mindfulness. 2017; 8(2), 383-392.
  7. Germer C K, & Neff KD. Self-compassion in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2019; 69(8), 856-867.
  8. Asano K, & Shimizu EA. case report of compassion focused therapy (CFT) for a Japanese patient with recurrent depressive disorder: the importance of layered processes in CFT. Case Reports in Psychiatry. 2018; 98, 213-225.
  9. Gilbert P. Compassion-focused therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge. 2010.
  10. Neff Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. HarperCollins.2011
  11. Leung, AN, & Chung MK. The impact of compassion-focused therapy on stigma and self-esteem among people with leprosy. Journal of Health Psychology. 2018; 23(12), 1541-1550.
  12. Williams J M G. Compassion-focused therapy for depression: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review. 2019; 71, 54-64.
Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 68, Issue 1
March and April 2025
Pages 81-88