The Effect and Mechanism of Self-Compassion on Reducing Materialism: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Self-Compassion Intervention.
Xiaodan Gu, Ming Wu, Xianglong Zeng, Yun-Heng Wang, Yang Zhang, Xin-Tong Dong, Yuchun Liu, Yuan Zheng, Jingyi Zhou
International Journal of Psychology July 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.70076 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 309 |
| Population | Adults recruited online (n=154 intervention group; n=155 waitlist group) |
| Intervention | breathing meditation |
| Duration | 14-day intervention |
| Registration | NCT06322069 |
| Key findings | The 14-day online Positive Self intervention significantly increased self-compassion, self-esteem, and basic psychological needs and reduced materialism compared with a waitlist control. The authors report that self-compassion's effect on materialism was mediated by basic psychological needs, self-esteem, and a pathway from basic psychological needs to self-esteem, suggesting inner resources help reduce materialistic pursuits. |
Abstract
Materialism reflects the prioritisation of material wealth as a life pursuit, which is a negative mentality, but interventions aimed at reducing this negative mentality from the perspective of intrapersonal resources are rare. When inner resources are lacking, individuals tend to seek the extrinsic materials. This study developed a new 14-day online self-help intervention called Positive Self, which involves psychoeducation focusing on self-compassion and meditation, including breathing meditations and loving-kindness meditations. A randomised control trial was conducted to test its effects on materialism and to explore the mediating role of self-compassion, basic psychological needs, and self-esteem (n = 154 for intervention group; n = 155 for waitlist group). The results indicated that the Positive Self group significantly improved self-compassion, self-esteem, and basic psychological needs, and showed reduced materialism compared with the waiting group. The three mediating effect pathways from self-compassion to materialism were supported: basic psychological needs, self-esteem, and the pathway from basic psychological needs to self-esteem. This study highlights the role of intrapersonal resources, particularly self-compassion, in reducing materialism and underscores the significance of inner sources such as self-esteem and basic psychological needs. Additionally, it supports the efficacy of a brief online self-compassion intervention.
Trial Registration: NCT06322069. Date of
Registration: March 12, 2024.