title: Exploring the link between self-compassion and body image in university women.
abstract: The purpose of the present research was to examine the relationships between self-compassion and women's body image. In Study 1, female undergraduates (N=142) completed three measures of body image and measures of self-esteem and self-compassion. Results showed that high self-compassion predicted fewer body concerns independently of self-esteem. Moreover, when both self-compassion and self-esteem were included as predictors, self-compassion accounted for unique variance in body preoccupation and weight concerns whereas self-esteem did not. In Study 2, this finding was partially replicated with one component (self-judgment) of self-compassion uniquely predicting body preoccupation in undergraduate women (N=187). High scores on self-compassion also predicted less eating guilt independent of self-esteem. Additionally, self-compassion was shown to partially mediate the relationship between body preoccupation and depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the possibility that a consideration of self-compassion for body image may contribute to identifying who is most at risk for body/shape concerns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada. lwasylkiw@mta.ca
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wasylkiw
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.forename: Aleka M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: MacLellan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult