How Does Self-Compassion Relate to Body Image After Deconstructing Self-Compassion Into its Three Factors and Comparing Self-Compassion to Self-Esteem

Self-compassion is a construct that has recently become a more popular topic among researchers in psychology and similar fields. Self-compassion is a trait that is characterized by three factors: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Current research indicates that self-compassion is negatively correlated with anxiety and depression, and positively correlated with self-efficacy and control beliefs in learning, even when controlling for self-esteem. Also, recent research has indicated that self-compassion is negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction, yet little research has examined this relationship experimentally. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude whether having self-compassion (SC) relates to greater body satisfaction or vice-versa. This study was developed to experimentally investigate whether self-compassion could improve body dissatisfaction, how self-compassion relates to thin ideal internalization, and how self-compassion relates to a similar construct, self-esteem. In order to examine this, 135 participants were recruited from a private university to participate in this two-part study. For Part I, participants completed 3 body image scales (BES, BAS, BSQ), a demographics questionnaire, including their height and weight to obtain BMI, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Subscales (SATAQ). Upon 3 to 5 days of completion of the scales, participants visited the researcher's lab and were randomly assigned into one of four conditions for Part II: Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, Mindfulness, and Control. Each participant was given an initial Body Image State Scale (BISS 1), assessing state body satisfaction. Then, participants completed and 5-minute negative body image task and given a second Body Image State Scale (BISS 2). Participants then participated in one of four, 5-minute writing tasks, created to induce one of the 3 factors of self-compassion (Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, or Mindfulness) or to write about their dorm room (control for comparison) and responded to a final Body Image State Scale (BISS 3). Unlike a previous study, self-compassion did not account for additional variance on weight concern or body preoccupation beyond self-esteem, indicating both factors are highly related to one another. Self-compassion did predict additional variance beyond self-esteem on body appreciation. Thin ideal internalization was also noted to be significantly related to body image. Specifically, self-compassion moderated the relationship between thin ideal internalization and weight concern. In particular, self-compassion moderated the relationship between knowing about the thin ideal and what one should ideally look like and weight concern, This indicated that self-compassion was a protective factor for those who are more likely to internalize the thin ideal. Finally, for the experimental portion of the study, all participants had increased body dissatisfaction after the negative body image induction and improved body image post self-compassion/control induction. However, none of the experimental or control groups experienced different changes in body dissatisfaction post self-compassion induction. It is unclear as to why there were no group differences. Further research should attempt to further explore the link between body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and self-compassion, especially using experimental methodology.