Self-compassion, Body Image, and Self-reported Disordered Eating

Negative body image and disordered eating are pervasive problems among young girls and women in American society. In a daily diary study and a lab-based assessment, we examined the hypothesis that self-compassion for negative appearance-related events and perceived body flaws would predict healthier eating behavior in college-age women. Results of Study 1 indicated that on days when participants reported higher levels of appearance-related self-compassion, they also reported lower levels of disordered eating. Results of Study 2 indicated that participants who responded to a perceived body flaw in a self-compassionate way were significantly lower in subsequent self-reported body shame and anticipated disordered eating. Among those participants who exhibited restrained eating in a lab-based assessment, participants higher in self-compassion also reported lower weight-gain concern and self- punishment motives for their eating behavior. Body shame mediated the relationship between self-compassion and two measures of disordered eating, anticipated disordered eating, and weight-gain concern motives for restrained eating. All results held when controlling for self-esteem, a construct related to self-compassion. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.