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

Self-compassion and reasons individuals stop eating: An exploratory investigation

BACKGROUND

Self-compassion is a prevalent factor that has been explored in eating behaviour and weight loss literature. The present study explored the potential relationship between self-compassion and reasons individuals stop eating.

METHOD

Two hundred and eighty-three participants were recruited from social media platforms and a research participation scheme at a university in the West Midlands, UK, and completed questionnaires on self-compassion and reasons individuals stop eating.

RESULTS

The findings suggested that self-compassion was negatively associated with decreased food appeal, self-consciousness, and decreased food priority, whilst being positively associated with physical satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Self-compassion plays a prevalent role in the reasons individuals stop eating, and future research should continue exploring the effect of self-compassion on eating behaviour regulation.

A systematic review of observational studies exploring the relationship between health and non-weight-centric eating behaviours

Eating behaviour that does not centralise weight, otherwise known as weight-neutral, is associated with improved physical and psychological health, and greater health promoting behaviours. However, consolidated evidence is lacking. This study aimed to systematically evaluate 'health-centric' eating behaviour reflective of weight-neutral approaches, and their relationship with health (physical and mental) and health promoting behaviours. A systematic search was performed, identifying observational studies with adult populations, ≥1 physical/mental health outcome(s), and ≥1 validated measure(s) of health-centric eating behaviour. Study design, sample characteristics and outcomes were extracted and characterised into four domains. Our search identified 8281 records, with 86 studies, 75 unique datasets, and 78 unique exposures including 94,710 individuals. Eating behaviours included intuitive eating (n = 48), mindful eating (n = 19), and eating competence (n = 11). There were 298 outcomes identified for body composition, size, and physical health (n = 116), mental health and wellbeing (n = 123), health promoting behaviours (n = 51) and other eating behaviour (n = 8). Higher levels of intuitive eating, mindful eating and eating competence were significantly related to a lower BMI, better diet quality and greater physical activity. Higher intuitive and mindful eating were significantly related to lower levels of disordered eating, and depressive symptoms, and greater body image, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Greater eating competence and intuitive eating were significantly related to higher fruit and vegetable intake, and greater eating competence to higher fibre intake and better sleep quality. Our results demonstrate that 'health-centric' eating behaviours are related to a range of favourable health outcomes and engagement in health promoting behaviours. These findings help to enhance our understanding of eating behaviours that do not centre around body weight, providing support for health-centric eating behaviour in healthcare. Future research should focus on intervention studies and more diverse population groups.

A neural network underlying cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns

Concerns about food intake, weight and body shape can trigger negatively loaded emotions, which may prompt the use of cognitive strategies to regulate these emotional states. A novel fMRI task was developed to assess the neurobehavioral correlates of cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns, such as self-criticism, avoidance, rumination, and self-reassurance. Fourteen healthy females were presented audio sentences referring to these conditions and instructed to repeat these internally while engaging their thoughts with the content of food or body images. Participants were asked to report the elicited emotion and rate their performance. All cognitive strategies recruited a network including the inferior and superior frontal gyri, orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and dorsal striatum. These brain regions are involved in emotional, reward and inhibitory control processing. Representational similarity analysis revealed distinct patterns of neural responses for each cognitive strategy. Additionally, self-report measures showed that self-criticism was positively associated with superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activation. Self-compassion scores were negatively correlated with activations in the insula and right putamen, while self-reassurance scores were negatively associated with activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. These findings identify a neural network underlying cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns, where neurobehavioral correlation patterns depend on the cognitive strategy.

Pathways by Which Self-Compassion Improves Positive Body Image: A Qualitative Analysis

The current study applied consensual qualitative research-modified to essays written by 51 college women completing an expressive writing intervention over three time points for a total of 153 essays to identify how increases in self-compassion improve body image. A qualitative coding team tracked changes in affect and cognition over three time points. The results demonstrated that college women consistently expressed body acceptance and psychological flexibility. Additionally, the participants expressed important increases in mindfulness as well as decreases in social influences, feelings of separation, negative health behaviors, and attention to media messages. Decreases were found in their expressions of body functionality, love and kindness toward their body, and internal locus of control. These findings suggest pathways through which self-compassion may improve women's body image by increasing mindfulness and decreasing the negative ways of relating to one's body, specifically in the areas of media, clothing, make-up, and negative social interactions.

Body-related self-conscious emotions, self-compassion, and dietary restraint in Canadian undergraduate university students: A multilevel mediation and moderation analysis

OBJECTIVE

Self-compassion has an inverse association with dietary restraint however, the mechanisms linking self-compassion and dietary restraint are not clear. This study aimed to determine to what extent self-compassion was inversely concurrently related to dietary restraint, indirectly through body-related self-conscious emotions, and to what extent trait self-compassion moderated the concurrent within-person association between body-related self-conscious emotions and dietary restraint.

METHOD

Data was collected from 224 Canadian university students who reported on trait self-compassion at baseline and body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment, and dietary restraint biweekly between November 2020 and August 2021.

RESULTS

Results from a 2-1-1 multilevel mediation model showed that trait self-compassion was indirectly concurrently related to dietary restraint through body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment. Results from the moderation model showed that there was a significant positive concurrent within-person association between body-related shame, envy, and embarrassment, but not guilt, with dietary restraint. These relationships were not moderated by trait self-compassion.

DISCUSSION

This study adds to our understanding of the concurrent association between body-related self-conscious emotions and dietary restraint, and the mechanisms through which self-compassion is related to dietary restraint. Given body-related self-conscious emotions were related to dietary restraint at both the within-person and between-person level, both compassion-focused interventions that aim to improve general levels of body-related self-conscious emotions and interventions that aim to overcome spikes in these emotions compared with one's usual level are warranted.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Negative body-related self-conscious emotions were related to higher levels of dietary restraint both across individuals and within individuals over time; and may play a mechanistic role in linking self-compassion with dietary restraint. Interventions aimed at reducing negative body-related self-conscious emotions are warranted in the prevention of eating disorder psychopathology.

Longitudinal association between self-compassion and intuitive eating: Testing emotion regulation and body image flexibility as mediating variables

OBJECTIVES

Growing evidence suggests that intuitive eating is associated with numerous positive mental health and well-being constructs. Understanding factors that predict intuitive eating is necessary for identifying practical targets to enhance this style of eating, yet research identifying such predictors is scarce. Self-compassion is one variable that could enhance intuitive eating because it involves the practice of healthy emotion regulation skills that may disrupt the tendency to turn to food to cope during distressing situations. The present study tested for a longitudinal association between self-compassion and intuitive eating. We also tested whether this association was mediated by indices of emotion regulation (i.e., global emotion regulation skill scores and body image flexibility).

METHOD

Adult women (n = 3039) were invited to completed study measures at baseline (T1), 4-month follow-up (T2), and 8-month follow-up (T3). Path analyses were computed to test hypothesized indirect effects.

RESULTS

A direct path from T1 self-compassion to T3 intuitive eating emerged, such that higher self-compassion levels predicted increased intuitive eating over time. However, this association was not mediated by T2 emotion regulation skills nor body image flexibility.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that self-compassion may facilitate an intuitive eating style, which does not appear to be explained by certain emotion regulation skills.

A factor that can yield to eating attitude disorders in university students: Self-esteem

OBJECTIVE

To determine prevalence of eating attitude disorder (EAD) and the effect of self-esteem on EAD in female university students.

Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, female university students were included. The dependent variable was EAD determined by Eating Attitude Test-40. Socio-demographic characteristics, body perception, obesity, self-compassion and self-esteem were independent variables. Logistic regression (LR) models have been established to determine the associated factors of EAD. p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: EAD were found in 3.3% (n = 20) of the participants (n = 600). 44.5% had low and medium self-esteem and %13.4 were overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0). According to LR models, after adjusted for age, increased self-esteem score (decreased self-esteem) (OR:1.8, 95%CI:1.063-3.303) and practicing popular diet (OR:12.6, 95%CI:4.439-35.904) increased the risk of EAD significantly.

Conclusion: EAD were less than expected in this group of university students. Self-esteem is an important factor affecting EAD. Students with EAD may be recommended to get psychological support as well as nutritional counseling.

The relationship between physicians' self-kindness and professional fulfillment and the mediating role of personal resilience and work-home interference: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Professional fulfillment is crucial for physicians' well-being and optimal patient care. Highly demanding work environments, perfectionism and self-critical attitudes jeopardize physicians' professional fulfillment.

OBJECTIVE

To explore to what extent a kinder attitude towards the self, i.e. self-kindness, was associated with physicians' professional fulfillment and whether this relationship was mediated by personal resilience and work-home interference.

METHODS

In 2020, cardiologists (n = 374) in the Netherlands participated in a web-based survey. Self-kindness was measured by the self-kindness subscale of the Self-Compassion Scale, personal resilience by the Brief Resilience Scale, work-home interference by the negative Work-Home Interference subscale of the Survey Work-Home Interaction-Nijmegen, and professional fulfillment by the corresponding subscale of the Professional Fulfillment Index. Using Hayes' SPSS macro PROCESS v3.5, the authors tested the parallel mediation model.

RESULTS

Self-kindness was not directly associated with professional fulfillment (direct effect = .042, p = .36, 95% CI: -0.048, 0.132). Self-kindness was indirectly related to professional fulfillment through individual resilience (indirect effect = .049, 95% CI: .020, 0.086) and work-home interference (indirect effect = .057, 95% CI: .023, 096).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that improving physicians' self-kindness may enhance professional fulfillment through personal resilience and work-home interference. Our findings may stimulate and remind physicians to be kind towards themselves as it may benefit them and their patients.

Association of self-compassion and body image disturbance among young breast cancer patients: Mediating effect of body surveillance and body shame

Objective

To examine whether body surveillance and body shame mediated the association between self-compassion and body image disturbance among young breast cancer patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a total of 310 young women with breast cancer were recruited by convenience sampling. All of them completed self-report measurements of demographic and clinical characteristics, self-compassion scale, body image self-rating questionnaire for breast cancer and body surveillance scale, and body shame scale between September and December 2021 ​at a tertiary cancer hospital in Tianjin, China. Data analysis was performed with correlation analysis and structural equation modeling to verify relationships between key variables.

Results

Less self-compassion was significantly associated with greater body image disturbance, while a positive correlation was found between body image disturbance, body surveillance, and body shame. Self-compassion indirectly negative predicted body image disturbance via the chain mediation of body surveillance and body shame.

Conclusions

The links of self-compassion and body image disturbance were mediated by body surveillance and body shame. Reducing patients' excessive body surveillance and body shame by improving their ability of self-compassion may be an effective measure to reduce body image disturbance.

Self-Compassion May Have Benefits for Body Image among Women with a Higher Body Mass Index and Internalized Weight Bias

Negative attitudes towards one’s own body are common among women and are linked to adverse consequences including negative affect, low self-esteem, and eating pathology. Self-compassion has been found effective in improving body image; however, few published studies have examined self-compassion in populations with higher BMIs despite the positive correlation between weight and body dissatisfaction. The current study examined the efficacy of a self-compassion letter-writing exercise versus two active control groups in response to a negative body image induction. The sample of college-aged females (M age = 20.91 years; SD = 5.47) was split between higher and lower BMI to determine whether self-compassion affects body image, affect, and self-esteem differently across weight groups. Weight bias internalization (WBI: i.e., internalization of society’s negative stigma against those with higher BMIs) was examined as a moderator of this relationship in the higher BMI group. Results suggest that letter writing improved body image regardless of condition (p < 0.001). The self-compassion exercise promoted more adaptive body image (p = 0.007) and self-compassion (p = 0.013) than one control condition for those with high WBI. Results suggest that self-compassion can be helpful in ameliorating negative body image for females of all sizes, and that levels of WBI may alter the effect of body image interventions.

A daily diary study of self-compassion and adaptive coping behaviours in women with symptoms of bulimia nervosa

BACKGROUND

Mental health is more than the absence of illness and includes the ability to cope adaptively with stress. To shed light on the factors that promote mental health in people with eating disorders, this daily diary study examined whether daily and trait levels of self-compassion predict adaptive coping behaviours in women with symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN).

METHODS

Women (N = 124) who met the DSM-5 criteria for BN completed 2 weeks of nightly measures assessing their daily level of self-compassion and their daily adaptive coping behaviours, namely, their use of problem-solving strategies, seeking and receiving of instrumental social support, and seeking and receiving of emotional social support.

RESULTS

Multilevel modelling revealed that on days when self-compassion levels were higher than their personal mean level or than the preceding day's level, participants reported greater use of problem-solving strategies, greater seeking and receiving of instrumental social support, and greater receiving of emotional social support. Daily levels of self-compassion, but not increased self-compassion from the preceding day, were associated with emotional support sought. Further, higher trait self-compassion, as measured by participants' mean level of self-compassion over the 2 weeks, was associated with increased seeking and receiving of instrumental and emotional social support but not with problem-solving strategies. All models controlled for participants' daily and mean eating pathology over the 2 weeks, highlighting the unique contribution of self-compassion to adaptive coping behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that self-compassion may help individuals with symptoms of BN cope with challenges in their daily life more adaptively, an integral component of positive mental health. The present study is among the first to suggest that the benefits of self-compassion for individuals with eating disorder symptoms may lie not only in facilitating reduced eating pathology, as evidenced by prior research, but also in promoting positive mental health. More broadly, findings underscore the potential value of interventions designed to build self-compassion in individuals with eating disorder symptoms.

Disordered eating is related to deficits in emotional processing: A correlational study with a subclinical sample

BACKGROUND

Both clinical and non-clinical levels of disordered eating behaviours have been associated with deficits in emotional processing.

METHODS

Through a correlational design, the present study examined the relationship between different types of disordered eating behaviours and various forms of emotional processing. N = 209 female undergraduate participants completed self-report measures of disordered eating behaviours, perceived emotion intensity, emotion regulation skills, and self-compassion. Four groups of participants were identified based on self-reported disordered eating behaviours: a healthy control group (n = 90), dieting group (n = 22), binging group (n = 59), and binging/purging group (n = 38).

RESULTS

Greater severity of disordered eating was associated with greater emotional processing deficits including greater perceived emotion intensity, greater emotion regulation difficulties, and diminished self-compassion. Emotion regulation skills mediated the relationship between emotion intensity and disordered eating behaviours. A continuum of emotional processing deficits was observed wherein the healthy control group exhibited the fewest emotional processing deficits, and these deficits became increasingly severe among the dieting group, binging group, and binging/purging group, respectively. Each disordered eating type was associated with a specific profile of emotional processing difficulties.

LIMITATIONS

This study examined a subclinical sample of only female participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings bear clinical importance for the prevention, treatment, and understanding of disordered eating behaviours.

Be Kind to Yourself: the Implications of Momentary Self-Compassion for Affective Dynamics and Well-Being in Daily Life

Objectives

While self-compassion (SC) has mostly been understood as a stable trait-like property, growing evidence suggests that it may fluctuate over time within a given individual. However, little is known on how these fluctuations relate to affective well-being and affective dynamics, such as emotional inertia and stress reactivity in daily life.

Methods

A sample of 119 non-clinical individuals (mean age: 31.3 years, 53.8% female) completed a 7-day smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment study with six semi-random signals per day. With each signal, individuals reported their momentary positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), recent SC, and occurrence and perceived strain of daily hassles since the last signal.

Results

Whenever individuals reported higher recent SC than usual, they experienced higher momentary PA and lower momentary NA. Moreover, higher recent SC related to lower stress reactivity in terms of lower decrease of PA and lower increase of NA following the experience of daily hassles. No associations between SC and emotional inertia were found. When distinguishing between the positive components (SC-Pos) and negative components (SC-Neg) of SC, SC-Neg (compared to SC-Pos) was more strongly connected to NA, while SC-Pos and SC-Neg were similarly connected to PA. SC-Pos was associated with an attenuated NA stress reactivity, and SC-Neg with an increased NA stress reactivity. SC-Pos and SC-Neg did not significantly moderate PA stress reactivity nor emotional inertia.

Conclusions

Results show that the benefits of SC for well-being and stress reactivity may unfold whenever we treat ourselves with compassion, irrespective of how self-compassionate we are in general.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-022-02050-y.

A systematic review of compassion-based interventions for individuals struggling with body weight shame

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review investigated compassion-based interventions and the extent to which they can assist with addressing body weight shame.

DESIGN

The systematic review was pre-registered and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Seven electronic databases (PsycNET, Pubmed, Web of science, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest, Social Science Database) were searched. The methodological quality of studies was also assessed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Main outcomes were body weight shame, and compassion. Secondary outcomes assessed were mental health, eating attitudes and behaviours, physical exercise and Body Mass Index and weight.

RESULTS

25 studies (23 papers) met inclusion criteria and results indicated promise for compassion-based interventions for body weight shame, compassion, and health related behaviour. Mixed results were found for BMI and weight. The studies varied considerably in terms of populations targeted, the duration of interventions, and intervention delivery.Conclusion: Overall, compassion-based interventions were found to reduce body weight shame and improve levels of compassion. However, the impact of compassion-based interventions on BMI and weight is less promising. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Enriching sociocultural perspectives on the effects of idealized body norms: Integrating shame, positive body image, and self-compassion

Body image is an integral aspect of the psychology of the self. Idealized body images are ubiquitous in both traditional media forms (e.g., magazines, television) and social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram). The classic sociocultural model of body image (i.e., the Tripartite Influence Model) emphasizes pathways between idealized body norms, appearance comparisons, internalization of body ideals, and body dissatisfaction and its outcomes. We summarize the model and identify some issues to be addressed in future work, particularly in light of the immense popularity of social media. We review three topics that are not included in the sociocultural model but that provide a more complete picture of the influence of societal body norms on body image: (1) body shame, (2) positive body image, and (3) self-compassion. Research on the nature, assessment, and relevance of these constructs is reviewed in detail. In terms of clinical applications of these areas of research for individuals at risk of body dissatisfaction, we suggest assessing for and targeting body shame, cultivating facets of positive body image, and teaching strategies for developing self-compassion.

The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety

BACKGROUND

Women undergo significant physical, physiological, and psychological changes during pregnancy. They are also exposed to sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related ideals. These pregnancy-related changes and sociocultural appearance-related pressures may place pregnant women at greater vulnerability to developing body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. To date, however, little is known about how sociocultural pressure may influence pregnancy-related anxiety, or factors that may protect against such distress during pregnancy. This study examined whether body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between appearance-related sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety, and whether this relationship was moderated by self-compassion and/or self-criticism.

METHOD

A cross-sectional sample of 253 pregnant women (M_age = 26.28, SD_age = 4.43) completed an online questionnaire measuring sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction, pregnancy-related anxiety, and self-compassion.

RESULTS

Moderated mediation analyses revealed body dissatisfaction fully mediated the relationship between sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety. Analyses confirmed the moderating role of self-compassion and self-criticism on the relationship between sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction, but not on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional nature of this study limits confirmation of the direction of relationships between sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

While the findings of this study need to be replicated in prospective and longitudinal studies, they suggest that sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related standards contribute to body dissatisfaction, which in turn may facilitate pregnancy-related anxiety. Self-compassion may protect the body image of pregnant women against negative effects of appearance-related sociocultural pressure.

Cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors: The mediating roles of self-compassion and self-objectification

Previous studies have demonstrated the correlations between cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents, however, limited attention has been paid to the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms, and studies focused on young adults are scarce. This study explored the association between cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors and the underlying mechanisms in a sample of young adults using a longitudinal design. A total of 955 Chinese young adults completed the Cyber Victim Subscale of the Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale, the Self-surveillance Subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Self-compassion Scale-Short Form, and the Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire three times with a 3-months interval. The results indicated that cyberbullying victimization was positively correlated with emotional eating and external eating after six months, but not with restrained eating. Moreover, self-compassion and self-objectification mediated the associations between cyberbullying victimization and the three kinds of disordered eating behaviors, however, in different ways. In the associations of cyberbullying victimization with restrained eating and external eating, the independent mediating effect of self-objectification and the serial mediating effect were significant, while in the association between cyberbullying victimization and emotional eating, only the independent mediating effect of self-compassion was significant. The findings indicated that the relations between cyberbullying with different kinds of disordered eating behaviors might have different mediation mechanisms, which sheds light on the prevention and intervention for disordered eating behaviors associated with cyberbullying in the future.

Psychometric properties of Chinese Translated body compassion scale (BCS) among Hong Kong adolescents

Background

Adolescence is at a transition stage of developmental psychology, and they must go through their psychosocial and identity crisis, which affect their self-concept. According to the structure of self-concept, physical is considered as one of the elements affecting a person's evolvement of self, which can be called as physical self-esteem. In regards to the equilibrium mental benefits of self-compassion, the concept of body compassion was focused. Together with the lack of body-part related research being further investigated among non-western countries, this research aimed at translating the Body Compassion Scale (BCS) to Chinese and examining the reliability and validity of the Chinese translated BCS among Hong Kong adolescents.

Methods

The reliability of the translated BCS was examined by the test-retest reliability test as well as the Cronbach's alpha value for the internal consistency. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was adopted to investigate the construct validity, and Pearson's correlation was used to examine the convergent validity with other related scales.

Results

The Chinese translated BCS (Pilot Study: n = 220; Main Study: n = 1047) showed adequate psychometric properties results. It had a satisfying internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It showed an adequate goodness of fit results in CFA, with X²(465.64)/227 = 2.05,p < 0.001, CFI = 0.916, TLI = 0.906,SRMR = 0.071,RMSEA = 0.069 [90% CI = 0.06 to 0.078]. Additionally, the measurement invariance model suggested that the factor loadings and mean differences of the translated BCS were invariant across early and older adolescents.

Conclusion

The Chinese translated BCS is considered as valid and reliable in examining Hong Kong adolescents’ body compassion.

The ironic effects of dietary restraint in situations that undermine self-regulation

Dietary restraint, defined as the cognitive effort to restrict eating, can paradoxically make individuals more susceptible to unhealthy eating when their ability to self-regulate is threatened. Past experiments have found that, in situations that elicit low self-control and/or unhealthy cravings, participants with higher dietary restraint eat more than those with lower restraint. However, these relationships have never been examined in a free-living environment. The current daily diary study examined if dietary restraint would exacerbate the associations between poor self-control and unhealthy cravings with overconsumption, namely, eating more than usual and binge eating. College women (N = 121, M age = 19) reported their restrained eating behavior and completed seven daily surveys. Multilevel analyses showed a significant interaction between dietary restraint and daily self-control on eating more than usual (b = -0.13, p = .001) and binge eating (b = -0.22, p < .001). Lower daily self-control was associated with eating more than usual and with more binge eating that day, but only among women with higher dietary restraint. Dietary restraint also moderated the effect of cravings on eating more than usual (b = 0.10, p = .007); this relationship was stronger for women with higher restraint. Stronger cravings were associated with more binge eating regardless of restraint. Results suggest that situations that undermine self-control are more strongly associated with overeating among those with higher dietary restraint. Findings can inform strategies to reduce overconsumption among restrained eaters.

Determining the potential link of self-compassion with eating pathology and body image among women: a longitudinal mediational study

PURPOSE

This longitudinal study aims to determine what factors mediate the previously established link between self-compassion and eating pathology/body image concerns, over a 6-month period.

METHODS

A community sample of 274 adult women (M = 29.50 years) completed standardised validated measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale), rumination (Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire), shame (Other as Shamer Scale), perfectionism (Short Form of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale), self-criticism (Levels of Self-Criticism Scale), eating pathology (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire) and body image (Body Shape Questionnaire). They reported levels of: self-compassion at Time 1, potential mediators (rumination, shame, self-criticism, perfectionism) at 3 months; and eating pathology and body dissatisfaction a further 3 months later. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Stepwise multiple regression showed that shame was the most consistent mediator.

RESULTS

Shame acted as a full mediator of the self-compassion-eating/body image relationship {respectively, [B = .04, SE = .01, t(268) = 3.93, p < .001], [B = .33, SE = .15, t(268) = 2.25, p < .05]}. Discrepancy perfectionism also played a mediating role in the link between self-compassion and body image dissatisfaction [B = .59, SE = .28, t(268) = 2.10, p < .05].

CONCLUSION

These results support the hypothesis that self-compassion is relevant to eating pathology and body image disturbance, and demonstrate that shame is an important mechanism in that relationship. This pattern suggests that interventions that reduce shame should be considered when addressing issues relating to self-compassion and its links to eating disorders.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, multiple time series without intervention.

Self-compassion in weight management: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Self-compassion - the tendency or ability to treat oneself kindly in times of failure or distress - may be a natural fit to support individuals who struggle with weight management. However, while self-compassion shows promise with improving health behaviours, the associations self-compassion has on weight management outcomes are unclear. The objective of this systematic review was three-fold: (1) to evaluate whether self-compassion interventions can increase individual self-compassion in the context of weight management, (2) to investigate if self-compassion interventions can improve weight management outcomes, defined as healthier eating, increased physical activity, or reduced weight and finally, (3) to explore whether these benefits can be sustained over the longer term.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, Scopus, PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed and Embase databases were searched. Studies including a measure of self-compassion and a self-compassion intervention reporting weight management outcomes were included. Studies in populations living with an eating disorder were excluded. The Quality Criteria Checklist from the American Dietetic Association was used to assess study quality. Prospero Registration #CRD42019146707.

RESULTS

Of the 9082 records screened, a total of 20 studies met inclusion criteria. Seventeen studies reported significant increases in self-compassion post-intervention. Improvements were also found for eating behaviours (15 of 18), physical activity behaviours (6 of 9), and weight loss (6 of 11). The majority of improvements were maintained at follow-up, except for physical activity behaviours (1 of 7).

CONCLUSION

Self-compassion interventions tailored to weight management outcomes demonstrate efficacy with increasing self-compassion post-intervention. Methodological weaknesses and questions about the maintenance of any improvements in weight management outcomes limit our ability to make strong conclusions. However, there is promise and clear relevance for including self-compassion interventions to enhance weight management outcomes; directions for improved intervention and study design are given.

A two-week daily diary study examining the association between daily self-compassion and symptoms of bulimia nervosa

OBJECTIVES

Individuals with symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) are more likely to binge and purge on days of greater negative affect. Given that self-compassion helps individuals cope more adaptively with distress, the present study examined the contribution of daily fluctuations in self-compassion to eating disorder symptoms in women who endorse symptoms of BN. The directionality of these associations was also examined.

METHOD

For 2 weeks, 124 women who met the DSM-5 criteria for BN completed nightly measures of their daily eating pathology and self-compassion.

RESULTS

Self-compassion levels varied almost as much within a person from day-to-day as between-persons (i.e., from one person to the next). Multilevel modeling revealed that within persons, higher daily levels of self-compassion were associated with a reduced probability of both binge eating and inappropriate compensation, and lower levels of dietary restraint and clinical impairment. Secondary analyses revealed that these variables mutually influenced one another within but not across days. Between persons, higher mean levels of self-compassion over the 2 weeks were associated with less dietary restraint and clinical impairment but were unrelated to binge eating and compensatory behaviors.

DISCUSSION

For women who report symptoms consistent with BN, responding to daily distress with greater self-compassion than usual may attenuate the psychosocial and behavioral symptoms of their eating disorder. Similarly, days of reduced eating pathology may facilitate self-compassion. Future research using experimental paradigms and ecological momentary assessments may shed further light on the ways in which self-compassion and eating pathology relate to one another in this population.

Determining the potential links of self-compassion with eating pathology and body image among women and men: A cross-sectional mediational study

This study examined whether rumination, shame, self-criticism, and perfectionism mediate the previously established link between self-compassion and both eating and body image concerns. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by a community sample of non-clinical adult women (n = 369) and men (n = 201). Participants completed standardised measures of self-compassion (predictor), rumination, external shame, perfectionism and self-criticism (mediating variables), and eating pathology and body image (criterion variables). Path analyses confirmed that higher self-compassion was serially linked to lower eating pathology and body dissatisfaction through comparative self-criticism and external shame. Compared with women, the association between higher self-compassion and lower body dissatisfaction was weaker in men. However, there were no mediating effects of rumination, perfectionism, or internalized self-criticism. Overall results indicate notable similarities between women and men, and emphasise the potential value of targeting external shame during eating disorder prevention and treatment. Longitudinal study of these constructs is warranted in future research.

The Effects of Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem Writing Interventions on Women’s Valuation of Weight Management Goals, Body Appreciation, and Eating Behaviors

In this study, we examined the effects of body-focused daily self-compassion and self-esteem expressive writing activities on women’s valuation of weight management goals, body appreciation, bulimic symptoms, and healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors. One-hundred twenty-six women, recruited from the community and a university participant pool ( Mage = 29.3, SD = 13.6), were randomly allocated to one of the three writing conditions: body-focused self-compassion, body-focused self-esteem, or control. Women reflected on a moment within the past 24 hours that made them feel self-conscious about their bodies, eating, or exercise habits (self-compassion and self-esteem conditions) or on a particular situation or feeling that occurred in the past 24 hours (control condition) for 4–7 days. At post-treatment (24 hours after the intervention), women in the self-compassion group demonstrated decreased bulimic symptoms, while women in the self-esteem and control conditions did not. Furthermore, clinically significant changes in bulimic symptoms were associated with being in the self-compassion condition but not in the self-esteem or control conditions. Results suggest that body-focused writing interventions may be more effective in temporarily reducing eating disorder symptoms in women if they focus on harnessing self-compassion. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843211013465

The Importance of Self-Compassion in Terms of Self Psychology

Self-compassion has fostered a new way to build connectedness with oneself and affirmed the importance of offering compassion to oneself. However, there have been numerous arguments about the similarity with other self-related concepts, yet they have neglected its importance in self-psychology. For instance, self-compassion could be seen as an important element in Kohut’s concept of self in illustrating the self-object and self-experience theory, thus leading to a healthy self. Additionally, the self-schemas (self-esteem and self-efficacy) have been sufficiently shown to be associating with and predicting positive psychological outcomes and have further demonstrated the positive relations with self-compassion. Self-compassion thus demonstrated that similar features have been shared among the self-schemas. Moreover, with the claim that self-compassion was more precise than self-esteem, self-compassion should be emphasized by self-psychology then to develop a new era of “true self-esteem”.

Positive, not negative, self-compassion mediates the relationship between self-esteem and well-being

OBJECTIVES

The study examined the predictive strengths of self-esteem, and positive and negative self-compassion for hedonic and eudaimonic well-being as well as assessed the relative mediating roles of positive and negative self-compassion for the relationships among self-esteem, and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.

DESIGN

A correlational design was employed through which self-esteem, self-compassion, and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being were measured.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-four male (M = 25.11, SD = 1.66) and 138 female (M = 21.89, SD = 1.87) participants were chosen by a convenient sampling.

RESULTS

The findings evinced that there were significant positive correlations among self-esteem, positive self-compassion, and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being while negative self-compassion exhibited small positive correlations with both the well-being measures (criterion). The regression analyses showed that self-esteem and positive self-compassion reflected significant predictive strengths for hedonic as well as eudaimonic well-being while negative self-compassion did not. This was also true for the social and psychological aspects of well-being. The β values reflected that positive self-compassion did show a higher contribution for both the well-being measures as compared to self-esteem.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings evinced that positive, not negative, self-compassion mediated the relationship between self-esteem and hedonic well-being as well as self-esteem and eudaimonic well-being. Moreover, self-esteem and self-compassion have predictive strengths for both kinds of well-being. The findings showed the relevance of self-esteem and self-compassion to underscore well-being. The implications and directions for future researchers have been discussed.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Contrary to the earlier findings suggesting self-esteem and self-compassion carrying relevance to explicate performance and well-being of people with individualistic and collectivistic cultures, respectively, the findings of this study suggest both the constructs to be useful to understand the well-being of people with both the values belonging especially to the fast-changing societies like India. The study also suggests reconceptualization and empirical verification of self-compassion that will make it more effective for enhancing and promoting interventions for positive life outcomes.

Does self-compassion help to deal with dietary lapses among overweight and obese adults who pursue weight-loss goals?

Objectives

Self‐compassion can facilitate self‐improvement motivation. We examined the effects of self‐compassion in response to dietary lapses on outcomes relevant to weight‐loss strivings using a longitudinal design. The indirect effects of self‐compassion via guilt and shame were also explored.

Design

An Ecological Momentary Assessment methodology was employed with a sample of adults who were overweight or obese attempting to lose weight via dietary restriction (N = 56; M_age = 34.88; SD = 13.93; M_BMI = 32.50; SD = 6.88) and who responded to brief surveys sent to their mobile phones twice daily for two weeks.

Methods

Dietary temptations and lapses were assessed at each diary entry, and self‐compassion in response to dietary lapses, intention to continue dieting, weight‐loss‐related self‐efficacy, negative reactions to the lapse, and self‐conscious emotions were surveyed on occasions when participants reported having experienced a dietary lapse. The participants were also weighed in a laboratory prior to the EMA phase and via self‐report straight after the EMA phase. Weight was measured again in the laboratory 12 weeks after the EMA period.

Results

Bayesian multilevel path analyses showed that self‐compassion did not predict weight loss. However, at the within‐person level, self‐compassion was positively related to intentions and self‐efficacy to continue dieting, and negatively related to negative affective reactions to the lapses. Guilt mediated the associations of self‐compassion with intention, self‐efficacy, and negative reactions.

Conclusion

Self‐compassion may be a powerful internal resource to cultivate when dieters experience inevitable setbacks during weight‐loss strivings which could facilitate weight‐loss perseverance.

Yoga Practice in a College Sample: Associated Changes in Eating Disorder, Body Image, and Related Factors Over Time

Yoga practice is associated with improvements in eating disorder (ED) symptoms and body dissatisfaction. This study continued to evaluate this relationship while also assessing changes in variables negatively associated with ED symptoms (self-compassion, mindfulness, body appreciation, self-efficacy) that are emphasized throughout yoga. Men were also included in this study given studies have predominantly focused on women. Participants (N = 99, 77.8% women) were recruited from a university-implemented yoga course and completed assessments at the beginning (Time 1 (T1)) and end (Time 2 (T2)) of an eight-week yoga course meeting three times a week for fifty minutes. Body dissatisfaction (ps <.05) and ED pathology (p = .02) were lower at T2. Body appreciation (p < .001), self-compassion (p = .01), yoga self-efficacy (p = .004) were higher at T2. Some gender differences emerged. Men reported greater reductions in concern with being overweight, (Overweight Preoccupation) from T1 (M = 2.46, SD = 0.61) to T2 (M = 2.13, SD = 0.61) compared to women, T1 (M = 2.75, SD = 0.98) to T2 (M = 2.69, SD = 0.97) associated with yoga practice. Men also reported greater improvements in body satisfaction (Appearance Evaluation) from T1 (M = 3.60, SD = 0.49) to T2 (M = 3.90, SD = 0.34) compared with women, T1 (M = 3.48, SD = 0.58) to T2 (M = 3.39, SD = 0.52) associated with yoga practice. Results suggest yoga may be associated with concurrent changes in protective and risk factors for ED in a college population.

The role of self-compassion and shame in persons living with HIV/AIDS

Despite the connection between self-compassion, shame, and HIV/AIDS health outcomes in the literature, little is known about the relationship among these variables. Shame and self-compassion work independently of each other and experiences of shame can impede one's ability to engage in self-compassionate responses, which could prevent future health declines. Although shame has been found to mediate the relationship between self-compassion and a variety of mental health outcomes, it has not been examined in the context of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the current study was to examine how shame mediates the relationship of self-compassion and adherence to HIV/AIDS medications, as well as how shame mediates the relationship of self-compassion and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in people living with HIV (PLWH). This is the first study to look at trait-based shame in PLWH in a sample of 34 patients at an urban outpatient integrated care facility for PLWH. Self-compassion was not correlated with HIV adherence behaviors or HRQL, and shame did not mediate the relationship between self-compassion and adherence or HRQL. However as expected, less shame was related to and predicted better HRQL in PLWH. Self-compassion' relationship to shame, adherence, and HRQL may be context dependent.

Is self-compassion relevant to the pathology and treatment of eating and body image concerns? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Eating disorders are severe mental health conditions, with substantial consequences for health and quality of life. Such disorders are strongly associated with body image concerns. It is important to consider treatments that might enhance our ability to treat such cases. Recently, there has been a growing body of research on self-compassion in relation to such problems. However, we are not yet clear about the extent of such effects, given the range of studies and methodologies used. Therefore, a systematic literature review was carried out using four key databases. Meta-analysis was used to reach conclusions about the size of the effects and moderators. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted with 59 studies. Higher self-compassion was associated with lower eating pathology, reduced body image concerns, and greater positive body image, with medium to strong effect sizes (respectively, r = -0.34, r = -0.45, r = 0.52). Furthermore, self-compassion interventions for eating pathology and body image were effective, and superior to control groups (respectively, g = 0.58, g = 0.39). These findings support the role of self-compassion in understanding and addressing eating and body image concerns. Self-compassion appears to be an adaptive emotion regulation strategy in eating disorders and body image.

Self-Compassion and Need Frustration Moderate the Effects of Upward Appearance Comparisons on Body Image Discrepancies

Drawing from diverse theoretical frameworks, we examined predictors of discrepancy between current and ideal body image in a sample of 396 Greek adolescents. The participants completed assessments of the frequency of comparing oneself with someone of perceived better appearance, appearance evaluations, frustration of basic psychological needs, and appearance self-compassion. We found that upward appearance comparisons negatively predicted appearance evaluation, which in turn was a negative predictor of body image discrepancy. Moderated mediation analyses showed that appearance self-compassion buffered, whereas psychological need frustration augmented the negative effects of upward comparisons on appearance evaluation. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on body image discrepancies in adolescence by examining moderating factors that amplify or buffer such discrepancies, hence identifying viable intervention pathways.

Most women with anorexia nervosa report less eating pathology on days when they are more self-compassionate than usual

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with eating disorders who have lower trait levels of self-compassion have more severe eating pathology. This study examined the extent to which levels of self-compassion fluctuate day-to-day in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and whether these fluctuations contribute to their eating pathology.

METHOD

For 2 weeks, 33 women with typical (75%) and atypical AN reported on their daily eating pathology and self-compassion.

RESULTS

Nearly half the variance in participants' self-compassion scores occurred at the within-persons daily level. Multilevel modeling revealed that on days when participants were more self-compassionate than usual, their eating pathology was lower. However, this effect was moderated by participants' mean self-compassion level over the 2 weeks. Specifically, daily self-compassion was negatively related to eating pathology among individuals with average and higher mean self-compassion levels but was not related to eating pathology among those with lower levels.

DISCUSSION

One-time self-reports of self-compassion in individuals with AN may overlook the substantial within-person variability in their self-compassion levels. For most individuals with AN, responding to distressing daily experiences with more compassion than usual should be associated with decreased eating pathology. More work is needed to understand how individuals lower in dispositional self-compassion can benefit from these upward fluctuations.

A sociocultural examination of body image among Black women

In this integrative review, we highlight the legacy and contributions of Thomas Cash as it relates to Black women's body image concerns. In addition, utilizing intersectionality and objectification theories, we contend that Black women's body image disturbances must be placed within a sociocultural context based on the intersections of gender and racial oppression. Together, these systems of oppression create unique body image disturbances for Black women. We highlight literature that focuses on the specific ways in which Black women may encounter body image concerns-ways that differ from the experiences of White women to whom Black women have historically been compared. We conclude this review by highlighting factors that may foster body satisfaction among Black women, with a focus on strengths and protective factors.

A systematic review of the relation between self-compassion and depressive symptoms in adolescents

Research on self-compassion and depressive symptoms is growing at an exponential pace. This systematic review provides an in-depth exploration of the relation between self-compassion and depressive symptoms in adolescents. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched and 18 studies were identified. Results demonstrate the potentially pertinent role that self-compassion may play in the development, maintenance, and treatment of depression in adolescents, yet reflect on the paucity of research on this topic with respect to mechanisms of change. These studies further highlight how the impact of self-compassion may differ according to gender and age and underscore the need to account for other diversity-related variables, such as ethnic-racial group, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. Despite such limitations in the literature, the current findings extend research in adults by providing support for the relevance of self-compassion in adolescence, particularly with respect to the prevention of depressive symptoms.

Body compassion safeguards against the impact of major life events on binge eating

Body compassion is a fresh construct that incorporates two multidimensional concepts: body image and self-compassion. Although self-compassion has revealed a protective role against body image and eating-related problems (e.g., binge eating), the study of this specific compassionate competence focused on body image is still largely unexplored. The present study aimed to test two moderation models which hypothesized that body compassion moderates the impacts of (i) the cumulative number and (ii) negative appraisal of major life events on binge eating behaviours, in a sample of 458 women from the Portuguese general population. Results showed that body compassion was negatively associated with major life events and binge eating. Moderation analysis results demonstrated the moderator effect of body compassion on the relationship between major life events (both cumulative number and negative appraisal) and binge eating, accounting for 34% and 33% of the variance of binge eating, respectively. The moderator effect of body compassion was confirmed to low to medium levels of body compassion and, overall, results seem to suggest that, for the same levels of major life events (in number or negative appraisal), women who present higher body compassion present less binge eating symptoms. Although these data are preliminary and need support from a longitudinal design research, current findings appear to be promising by suggesting the relevance of promoting body compassion in prevention and treatment programs for disordered eating attitudes and behaviours.

The moderating role of self-compassion on weight and shape concerns and eating pathology: A longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

The present study employed a longitudinal design to examine the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between weight/shape concerns and the outcomes of eating pathology and stress in a diverse college student population.

METHOD

Participants were 765 students who completed measures of self-compassion, weight/shape concerns, eating pathology, and stress over their first 2 years of college. We tested whether self-compassion attenuated the relation between weight/shape concerns at the beginning of college and eating pathology, and stress later in college.

RESULTS

For the first year of college, self-compassion significantly moderated the relationship of weight/shape concerns and eating pathology. For participants who were low in self-compassion, there was a stronger relationship between weight/shape concerns and disordered eating; whereas, for individuals high in self-compassion, there was a weaker relationship between weight/shape concerns and disordered eating. However, these findings did not replicate for the second year of college. Self-compassion also significantly moderated the relationship between weight/shape concerns and stress for the first year of college, though the relationship was complex and warrants further research.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest that high self-compassion may reduce the likelihood that undergraduate students with weight/shape concerns will engage in disordered eating behavior in the first year of college. They also highlight the influence of self-compassion on general stress.

Young women's perceptions of the impact of their body image on their sexual experiences

The goal of this study was to explore women's perceptions of their body within the context of their sexual relationship with a male partner. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 young women (ages 19 to 29). Thematic analysis revealed that women described a fluctuating body image that influences their behaviour and experience of sexual activity including initiating or avoiding, openness or inhibition, and feeling engaged or distracted. They described contextual factors that affect their body image in sexual situations (e.g., lighting, sexual position) as well as strategies they used to ameliorate the impact of body image concerns (e.g., self-talk, shifting focus), to varying degrees of success. Most indicated that they were able to enjoy partnered sexual activity despite their insecurities. Thus, women viewed their sexual experiences as influenced by body image in dynamic, fluctuating ways, with numerous influencing factors. Strategies for mitigating these perceived negative effects are discussed.

Stomaching rejection: Self-compassion and self-esteem moderate the impact of daily social rejection on restrictive eating behaviours among college women

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined whether having high self-esteem or a self-compassionate perspective help mitigate the impact of daily social rejection on negative affect and restrictive eating behaviours.

DESIGN

Following a baseline survey assessing self-esteem and self-compassion, 121 college women completed online daily diaries for one week.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Negative affect and restrictive eating behaviours.

RESULTS

On days when women reported more rejection, they also reported higher restrictive eating behaviours and greater negative affect. Effects were moderated by self-esteem and self-compassion, such that the lower participants were in self-esteem or self-compassion, the stronger the positive relation between rejection and negative affect and restrictive eating. However, only the common humanity/isolation dimension of self-compassion significantly moderated daily effects of rejection when controlling for self-esteem. Mediated moderation results reveal different mechanisms by which self-esteem and self-compassion buffer against rejections' effects on affect and restrictive eating.

CONCLUSION

Self-compassion and self-esteem influence the complex impact that social rejection has on affect and restrictive eating. More than other dimensions of self-compassion or self-esteem, remembering one's common humanity can result in a healthier response to social rejection.

The benefits of being self-compassionate on days when interactions with body-focused others are frequent

We examined whether a woman's level of self-compassion on a given day (within-persons) and over a week (between-persons) influenced her eating, body image, and affect in the face of frequent daily and/or weekly interactions with body-focused others. For seven nights, 92 female undergraduates reported on their daily social interactions, self-compassion, body image, eating, and affect. On days when women were less self-compassionate than usual, frequent interactions with body-focused others were associated with more body image concerns and negative affect, and less body appreciation and intuitive eating. However, these relationships were absent or inversed on days when women were more self-compassionate than usual. Self-compassion played a similar buffering role at the between-persons level. Results suggest that by treating themselves with a higher degree of self-compassion than what is typical for them, young women may be able to maintain healthier approaches to eating and body image when faced with body image threats.

Brief self-compassion meditation training for body image distress in young adult women

Self-compassion interventions may be uniquely suited to address body image distress (BID), as change-based strategies may have limited utility in a cultural context that so highly values appearance. The current study evaluated a version of an Internet-based self-compassion training, which had previously shown promising results, but was limited by high attrition. The intervention period was reduced from three weeks to one week in the present study to improve retention. Eighty undergraduate women endorsing body image concerns were randomized to either self-compassion meditation training or a waitlist control group. Results suggest that brief exposure to the basic tenets of self-compassion holds promise for improving aspects of self-compassion and BID. Attrition was minimal, but compliance with meditation practice instructions during the week was low. Efforts are needed to improve engagement, but this approach has the potential to be an acceptable and cost effective method to reduce BID.

Understanding the Association Between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Risk in College Students: Examining Self-Compassion as a Potential Mediator

OBJECTIVE

We tested a hypothesized model consistent with the notion that self-compassion mediates the association between negative life events and suicidal risk (viz., depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors) in college students METHOD: The sample was comprised of 331 college students. Self-compassion facets (viz., self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and overidentification) were used in testing for multiple mediation, controlling for sex.

RESULTS

Common humanity, mindfulness, and overidentification were found to mediate the association between negative life events (NLE) and depressive symptoms. However, common humanity was found to be the only mediator of the association between NLE and suicidal behaviors.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that there are specific facets of self-compassion that account for the association between NLE and suicidal risk in college students and that (loss of) common humanity plays a central role in this process.