The 7-day compassion diary: Evaluating a brief compassion flows training on body appreciation and cosmetic surgery interest

This study examined the effects of a brief compassion training to promote body appreciation and reduce interest in cosmetic surgery among young adults. Reflecting the relational nature of compassion, the intervention targeted its three flows, namely the three directions in which compassion can be expressed: from self to others (compassion for others), from others to self (compassion from others), and towards the self (self-compassion). Participants joined a 7-day online study and were randomly assigned to one of three compassion-based writing tasks (self-compassion, compassion from others, compassion for others) or a control condition. Pre- and post-tests measured compassion abilities, body appreciation, and interest in cosmetic surgery. A total of 436 participants completed all tasks and the post-test. After evaluating task-adherence, the final sample included 153 men (M age = 21.29) and 188 women (M age = 20.45). Participants in the three compassion conditions showed increased body appreciation from pre-test to post-test compared to those in the control group. Compassion for others was effective in reducing the desire for cosmetic procedures, especially for women; it also decreased interest in cosmetic surgery for social reasons across genders. In contrast, men in the compassion from others condition showed a slight increase in consideration of cosmetic surgery after completing the writing tasks. This is the first study investigating the impact of a brief compassion training targeting the three flows of compassion, highlighting their relevance for positive body image and the potential of compassion to others in reducing interest in cosmetic surgery.