Randomised controlled trial of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants

INTERVENTION: Participants completed an online self‐report survey on Qualtrics. They were asked to provide their email address and mobile phone number at the end of the first (Time 1) set of questionnaires. This enabled us to send an SMS message and email (containing the link to the Time 2 questionnaire) to remind all participants to complete the Time 2 questionnaire 8 weeks after they had completed the Time 1 questionnaire. It also allowed us to send SMS messages (as part of the intervention) to prompt intervention group participants to engage in the self‐compassion intervention. Intervention group participants received up to 10 SMS messages over the course of the experiment. The online intervention (delivered to the intervention group only) comprised (i) a brief web‐based informational video, that began with a psychoeducation component on compassion and its relevance to mothers of infants (from birth to 24 months), followed by simple strategies to prompt self‐compassion in daily life; (ii) an audio‐guided self‐compassion meditation, which women were encouraged to listen to and use to guide their own self‐compassion meditation practice for short periods (e.g. 2‐5 minutes) each day for the next month; and (iii) a simple tip sheet summarising key points that was also made available to participants to download and print. The accompanying weekly SMS prompts were each based on the tips from this tip sheet. Intervention participants were encouraged to participate in the self‐compassion meditation through the website and SMS reminders. Intervention participants' use of the resources was monitored through SMS reminders, and self‐report at the follow‐up survey (participants were asked to elect the frequency with which they accessed the intervention resources). CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour Postnatal mental health; ; Postnatal mental health Reproductive Health and Childbirth ‐ Childbirth and postnatal care PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in scores on The Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales ‐ the Self‐Compassion and Compassion from Others Scales [T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] Change in scores on The Fears of Compassion Scales ‐ the Self‐Compassion and Compassion from Others Scales[T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] Change in scores on The Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale ; [T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Change in scores on The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ‐II)[T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] Change in scores on The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (21 item version)[T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] Change in scores on The Impact of Event Scale‐Revised[T2 (8 weeks post‐T1 survey)] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Women aged 18+ years who had given birth to a child in the past 2 years and resided in Australia or New Zealand.