A qualitative analysis of the usefulness, risks, and challenges of incorporating functionality and body compassion into the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

Functionality appreciation and body compassion are empirically supported concepts that can help one to view their body in different and compassionate ways. However, they have yet to be applied to eating disorder (ED) samples and therefore it is important to explore the perceived benefit, risk, and nuance in this population. Semi-structured interviews (N = 25) were conducted with treatment providers, those with a lived experience of an ED, or history of body image distress. Usefulness, applicability, potential risks, benefits, and desired delivery format were probed. Thematic analysis was used. Participants reported that compassion and functionality approaches were useful, complement existing treatment approaches, and important for early intervention. Although considered safe, caveats were noted for ED samples, including introducing content at the right time (e.g., when medically stable), and when having the cognitive flexibility to think about one's body in different ways. For example, functionality appreciation could trigger thoughts about what one's body cannot do while compassion may allow for normalising negative thoughts. Both concepts were viewed as useful and safe to support positive body image at a community level and can be used with ED samples with additional support. This insight from potential users helps with co-design of appropriate content.

Positive Body Image and Psychological Wellbeing among Women and Men: The Mediating Role of Body Image Coping Strategies.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of body image coping strategies in the relationship between positive body image and wellbeing. Three hundred and seventy-two women and three hundred and seventy-seven men completed a questionnaire assessing body appreciation, body appreciation functionality, body compassion, body image coping strategies (appearance fixing, avoidance, positive rational acceptance), self-acceptance and overall psychological wellbeing. Path analysis showed that avoidance significantly mediated the relationship between body appreciation and overall psychological wellbeing among both women and men; its mediating role was confirmed for men's but not for women's self-acceptance. Positive rational acceptance was a significant mediator of the relationship between body compassion and both psychological wellbeing and self-acceptance among men but not among women. These findings show that higher body appreciation is associated with a lower tendency to avoid appearance-related cognitions or thoughts that are interpreted as threatening, with an indirect effect on women's and men's psychological wellbeing. Analogously, but only for men, body compassion is associated with mental activities and self-care behaviors that foster rational self-talk and the acceptance of one's experiences, which, in turn, are linked to higher wellbeing. These findings can help to plan programs aimed at fostering individuals' wellbeing by focusing on their positive body image considering gender differences.

The Role of Body Compassion in the Risk of Eating Disorders: Mediational Effects of Body Appreciation and Body Shame / El Papel de la Compasión Hacia el Cuerpo en el Riesgo de Trastornos Alimentarios: Efectos mediadores de la Apreciación Corporal y la Vergüenza Corpora

Background: Body compassion is a protective factor in the field of eating disorders (ED) that has been associated with higher body appreciation and lower body shame. However, more studies are needed in order to disentangle the protective role of compassion in regard to the risk of ED. The study’s aims were to (1) analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Body Compassion Scale (BCS) and (2) determine whether body appreciation and body shame were mediators in the relationship between body compassion and the risk of ED. Method: 288 women (range: 18-40 years old; M = 24.65 ± 5.02) from the general Spanish population completed online questionnaires. Results: The Spanish adaptation of the BCS was reliable and valid. Results of a serial and parallel mediation model confirmed the protective role of body compassion and body appreciation on body shame and the risk of ED, accounting for 68.88% of the variance. Conclusions: Findings indicate that women who present higher body compassion tend to show higher body appreciation, which in turn leads to lower internal body shame and lower risk of ED. These results support the need to develop a positive and compassionate relationship with one’s body, in order to prevent ED.(AU)

Antecedentes: La compasión hacia el cuerpo (CC) es un factor protector en el campo de los trastornos alimentarios (TA) que se ha asociado con una mayor apreciación y una menor vergüenza corporales. Sin embargo, se necesitan más estudios para desentrañar el papel protector de la CC en el riesgo de TA. Los objetivos fueron examinar (1) las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación española de la Escala de Compasión hacia el cuerpo y (2) si la apreciación y la vergüenza corporales eran mediadoras entre la CC y el riesgo de TA. Método: 288 mujeres (rango: 18-40 años; M = 24.65 ± 5.02) de la población general española cumplimentaron cuestionarios online. Resultados: La escala era fiable y válida. Un modelo de mediación serial-paralelo confirmó el papel protector de la CC y la apreciación corporal sobre la vergüenza corporal y el riesgo de TA, explicando el 68,88% de la varianza. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que las mujeres que presentan mayor CC tienden a mostrar mayor apreciación corporal, lo que conduce a una menor vergüenza corporal interna y un menor riesgo de TA. Estos resultados apoyan la necesidad de promover una relación positiva y compasiva con el cuerpo con el fin de prevenir TA.(AU)

An investigation of relationships between body compassion, social physique anxiety and physical appearance perfectionism in young people from Iran.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that physical appearance perfectionism could play an important role in social physique anxiety; however, the moderating role of body compassion has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the moderating role of body compassion in the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety in undergraduate students. METHODS: A sample of 418 undergraduates (n = 418; 217 female and 201 males) from three universities in Tehran, Iran completed online questionnaires measuring physical appearance perfectionism, body compassion and social physique anxiety. RESULTS: The results of structural equation modeling showed that physical appearance perfectionism (ß = 0.68, p < 0.001) positively predicted the social physique anxiety and body compassion negatively predicted (ß = - .56, p < 0.001) the social physique anxiety in undergraduate students. A multi-group analysis showed that body compassion acted as a moderator between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that individuals with greater levels of physical appearance perfectionism are more likely to experience social physique anxiety. Also, the results suggested that individuals who were at a high level of the body-compassion group experienced lower levels of social physical anxiety if they also had high levels of physical appearance perfectionism. Therefore, body-compassion acted as a protective role in the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety.

Anxiety over one's physical appearance in social situations is known as social physique anxiety. One of the variables that plays an important role social physique anxiety is physical appearance perfectionism. General perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, the symptoms of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia and obsessive exercise are all linked to physical appearance perfectionism. The results of the current study showed individuals with high levels of physical appearance perfectionism are more likely to experience social physique anxiety. In the current study, we tested the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety. Body compassion is characterized by diffusion, common humanity, and acceptance of one's own body as opposed to being judgmental, critical, isolated, and over-identifying with unpleasant experiences and emotions. The findings showed in the group with high body- compassion, the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety was not significant, which means that body-compassion played a buffering role in this relationship.

My Exposed Body: Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale-7 among Women.

BACKGROUND: Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) is the anxiety resulting from the prospect or presence of the interpersonal evaluation of one's physique. It is a construct related to body image and body esteem. The Social Physique Anxiety Scale-7 (SPAS-7) is a self-report scale aimed at measuring the degree of anxiety that people experience when others evaluate their physique. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the factor structure (through Confirmatory Factor Analysis followed by multi-group confirmatory factorial analyses), reliability, and convergent validity of an Italian version of the SPAS-7 among a sample of women (N = 520; mean age = 33.5, SD = 10.5). RESULTS: Confirmatory Factor Analysis attested the unidimensional factorial structure of the SPAS-7, which achieved full invariance across age groups. The strength of the inter-relationships between the SPAS-7 and measures of negative (i.e., body dissatisfaction) and positive body image (i.e., body appreciation and body compassion) provided evidence of good convergent validity. The Cronbach's alpha was very good. CONCLUSION: According to our results, the Italian version of the SPAS-7 could be a valid and agile instrument for assessing self-presentational concerns associated with body image among Italian-speaking women across age.

A validation of the body compassion scale in females.

Body compassion bridges together the constructs of body image and self-compassion and refers to the relationship people have with their bodies, encompassing defusion, common humanity and acceptance. The purpose of the current study was to validate the 23-item Body Compassion Scale (BCS), in a female sample, and to determine the distinctiveness of body compassion from the similar construct of self-compassion. A total of 513 females completed an online cross-sectional survey examining body compassion, self-compassion, body image, and psychological health. Results supported the validation of the three-factor structure of the BCS, with the subscales of defusion and acceptance being more strongly associated with measures of body image than self-compassion. The BCS subscale of common humanity revealed lower associations with body image compared to self-compassion. The findings suggest that body compassion is a body-specific construct relating to body image concerns and while related, is distinct, from the construct of self-compassion.

Examining the associations between self and body compassion and health related quality of life in people diagnosed with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: An understanding of the role that self and body compassion may play as protective mechanisms in the context of psychological and physical health conditions is steadily increasing. The availability of research pertaining to their role in mitigating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impacts associated with endometriosis is limited. The current study examined the influence of self and body compassion on HRQoL in people diagnosed with endometriosis. METHODS: Individuals aged 18+ years (n = 318), assigned female at birth, with a self-reported diagnosis of symptomatic endometriosis completed an online cross-sectional survey. Participant demographics and endometriosis-related data was collected in addition to self and body compassion and HRQoL. Standard multiple regression analyses (MRA) were conducted to estimate the proportion of variance in HRQoL that can be accounted for by self and body compassion in endometriosis. RESULTS: Self and body compassion were both associated with higher HRQoL across all domains. However, when both self and body compassion were entered into a regression, only body compassion was significantly associated with HRQoL domains of physical wellbeing, bodily pain, vitality, social engagement and general HRQoL; self-compassion explained no unique variance. In the domain of emotional wellbeing, when both self and body compassion were entered into a regression, both were significantly associated, and explained unique variance. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that future psychological interventions for individuals living with endometriosis should emphasise building general self-compassionate abilities with a subsequent specific focus on strategies designed to improve body compassion.

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 X 2(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.

Physical and psychological correlates of self and body compassion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This international cross-sectional study examined the level and potential correlates of self and body compassion in women (n = 227) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Participants completed an online survey examining quality of life, psychological health, body image and self and body compassion. Low levels of self and body compassion were found, with depression and body image concern identified as negative correlates of self and body compassion. Physical health was identified as a positive correlate of body compassion. The findings identify the important relationship between body image, psychological health and self and body compassion in women with PCOS.

Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The associations between compassion, self-compassion, and body image are well established. However, there is not yet a compassion-informed measure of body compassion that can be applied to any aspect of one's body. METHOD: Items for The Body Compassion Questionnaire (BCQ) were derived from an earlier expressive writing study on self-compassion in body image. In study 1, the BCQ was completed by 728 men and women; with factor analysis, Rasch analysis, content and concurrent validation and reliability assessed. Study 2 compared BCQ scores with investigator-based ratings of spontaneous expressions of body compassion through writing in female undergraduates as well as an existing measure of body compassion. Study 3 examined the associations between BCQ scores, and the emotions expressed in a structured body image writing task. It also examined the relative predictive ability of the BCQ versus self-compassion in predicting eating pathology. RESULTS: A bi-factor structure was identified, with an overall BCQ score and three subscales: body kindness, common humanity, and motivated action. The BCQ and its subscales had good validity and reliability and Rasch analysis showed the item fit was invariant across a range of demographic characteristics. Spontaneous expressions of body compassion showed positive associations with body kindness. Overall BCQ scores and body kindness were also inversely related to negative emotions expressed in relation to body image. The BCQ was a better predictor of eating disorder symptoms than was self-compassion. CONCLUSIONS: The BCQ is the first measure of body compassion that is aligned with theoretical aspects of self-compassion, and which includes aspects of both the first and second psychologies of compassion. It also highlights its potential use as a process measure of body compassion in models of eating disorder symptomology, mood and wellbeing as well as an outcome measure for compassion-based interventions in eating disorders and body image.

The Power of Words: Appearance Comments from One's Partner Can Affect Men's Body Image and Women's Couple Relationship.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine, through an experimental vignette design, the effects of appearance-related comments from one's partner on body image and the perceived quality of one's relationship. Body image was considered both in negative (body dissatisfaction) and positive (body compassion) terms. METHODS: Appearance-related commentary from one's partner was manipulated through a vignette describing the purchase of a swimsuit. The participants (n = 211) were women and men who were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions (positive comment, negative comment, no comment). RESULTS: A series of ANOVAs showed different findings for women and men. Being criticized for body weight and shape caused an increase in body dissatisfaction and a decrease in body compassion in men but not in women. Regarding couple satisfaction, women who imagined receiving a compliment about their body perceived being more accepted by their partner and were less afraid of being abandoned or rejected. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of appearance-based comments from one's partner on men's body image and on women's perception of their couple relationship. Therefore, appearance comments might be addressed by interventions aimed at enhancing positive body image, reducing body dissatisfaction, and fostering couple relationships, carefully considering sex differences.

The body compassion scale: Development and initial validation.

As the newer mindfulness and acceptance-based cognitive behavioral therapies continue to grow, it is important that corresponding valid and reliable assessment tools are developed and evaluated. This article describes the initial development and validation of the body compassion scale. The body compassion scale is a theoretically derived measure designed to bridge the constructs of body image and self-compassion to provide a targeted measure of underlying mindfulness and acceptance-based constructs. Herein, two studies using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and examining subsequent relationships among other health-related constructs in college-age samples are presented.

Exploring the paths between self-compassionate attributes and actions, body compassion and disordered eating.

The relationship between self-compassion and well-being and health (e.g. a lower proneness for eating-related disturbances) is well stressed in the literature. However, the specific contribution of self-compassionate attributes, actions, and body compassion remains scarcely studied. The main aim of the present study was to examine whether the link between self-compassionate attributes and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours is mediated by self-compassionate actions and body compassion, in a sample of 299 Portuguese women from the general population. The tested model explained 44% of eating psychopathology's variance and presented excellent fit indices. The most interesting contribution of this study was the suggestion that the ability to act in accordance with self-compassionate attributes is associated with higher levels of body compassion, that is, an attitude of appreciation, acceptance, warmth toward body-related thoughts, perceptions and feelings, which reflects in a lower susceptibility to adopt disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. These results seem to offer an important contribution for research and clinical practice by supporting the importance of including strategies to develop self-compassionate skills and body compassion competencies in prevention and treatment programs in the area of eating psychopathology.Level of evidence Level III, evidence obtained from a well-designed cohort.

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.