Islamic-Integrated Personal Growth Group to Promote Self-Compassion Among Thai Social Work Students: A Pilot Mixed-Method Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25217/0020269792400Keywords:
Self-compassion, Personal growth group, Islamic principles, Social work students, Randomized pilot trialAbstract
Social work students face high academic and emotional demands, requiring culturally responsive psychological support. This pilot study evaluated an Islamic-integrated personal growth group intervention to foster self-compassion among Muslim social work students in Thailand's southern border provinces. A randomized, two-group, pre-test/post-test trial with an embedded qualitative component and a three-month follow-up was conducted with a small sample (N = 24; 12 interventions, 12 controls); participants were purposively screened against inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to conditions. Baseline equivalence was confirmed across all three self-compassion subscales (all p > .05). Self-compassion was assessed using the Self-Compassion Scale; qualitative data were collected from the intervention group during sessions and at follow-up through audio-recorded observations and open-ended questions and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework. The intervention group showed a significant increase in self-compassion from pre- to post-test, and post-test scores were significantly higher than the control group on the composite score and all three subscales. However, three-month follow-up scores were significantly lower than post-test and no longer different from baseline, indicating the gains were not durably sustained. Thematic analysis showed participants drew on Islamic practices, such as Dhikr and Qadar, to interpret their emotional changes. Given the small sample and non-sustained follow-up effect, these findings should be read as preliminary evidence of short-term feasibility rather than durable effectiveness; larger trials with booster sessions or continued peer support are needed before firmer conclusions can be drawn.
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