Habit-formation strategies enhance long-term outcomes of a self-compassionate touch micropractice: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract This preregistered study tested a 15-minute, self-guided, online, single-session intervention designed to promote habit formation of self-compassionate touch micropractice (≤ 20 s/day). A U.S. national adult sample ( N = 497) was randomized to self-compassionate touch with habit formation tools (SCT+HABITS) or self-compassionate touch alone (SCT)—and assessed at baseline, month-3, and month-6. Relative to SCT, SCT+HABITS showed greater baseline-to-3-month and baseline-to-6-month increases in practice frequency, practice automaticity (habit formation), self-compassion, and self-compassion automaticity, as well as greater baseline-to-6-month reductions in symptoms of psychopathology (mental health symptoms). Baseline-to-3-month increases in practice automaticity mediated baseline-to-6-month effects, accounting for approximately 40–83% of the total group effects. Both interventions demonstrated high acceptability. Their outcomes did not differ by racialized identity. Findings highlight the role of habit formation in promoting positive outcomes of self-compassionate touch micropractice, and perhaps well-being practices more broadly. The scalability and adaptability of SCT+HABITS highlight a promising model for advancing efficient, effective, user-friendly interventions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05866718, registered 23/05/2023.