In the present day, self-compassion is a very important topic with improving positive psychology. Self-compassion can be an important factor for life without body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder because it is interested in psychological well-being (Işık, 2018). Self-compassion was researched in our country, in contrast, the studies of the correlation between self-compassion and body image satisfaction are not enough. In our country, the study which handles the affair of body image and eating disorder in the context of self-compassion is less (Koç & Korkut Owen, 2019). So, we try to measure and explain this relation in Turkey with this research.
Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is sensing of one’s misery, deficiencies and defects are parts of human and consists of curing oneself with goodness. In addition, self-compassion has three basic components: (1) Goodness for self, being uncritical and nonjudgemental toward oneself, (2) sensing that their experiences and imperfections are parts of common humanity, (3) keeping torminous ideas and sensations in mindfulness (Neff, 2003). Self-compassion does not consist of avoiding or compressing attitudes toward harsh senses and they sense compassion for their experiences even if they were not lived before (Neff, 2003). Besides, self-compassion does not involve critical attitude toward one’s self when individual conflicts with normal standards, at the same time self-compassion does not lead individuals to keep their failures as unnoticed or unreformed (Neff, 2003). Individuals with a high level of self-compassion recognize that all failings and errors are public issues, and everyone is a part of humanity. So self- compassion blocks to be separated from humans (Neff, 2011). An existing meta-analysis displays that there is a minor but eloquent differentiation in the relationship between self- compassion and gender (Yarnell et al., 2015). In addition to a current study, Bayar (2019) found that self-compassion is a very important estimated factor for body image satisfaction.
Body Image
The definition of body image modified in time. In particular present, the body image can be assigned as a concept of the body’s outlook (Slade, 1988). Body image can be deal with in two ways: Attitudinal and perceptual. Attitudinal body-image contains differences in individual feelings and enounce approve or not approve body image. The perceptual body image can be designated as existence or nonexistence of imperfection on individuals’ body size (Slade, 1994). Culture defines charming physical features as well as determines gender’s
physical appearance and manners. Especially, Western cultures force girls and women to be beautiful and thinness via media while they emphasis that men should be tall, strong and muscular (Cash, 2012). Body image is a human’s practice of how their physical appearance, and it are consisting of physical practical authority and heritage. Human’s perception of physical outlook and manner about their outlook are parts of body image (Cash, 2012). In addition to body image, Polivy and Herman (2004) say that with improving technology, slim bodies are supported, and these supports lead to displeasure of fat bodies, moreover this repression pioneers to eating disorder.
Eating Disorder
An eating disorder frequently is prescribed as an irresistible behavior that can people's life related to becoming life-threatening (Barker, Williams, & Galambos, 2006). Possessing obsessive preoccupation with food and weight is the major result of eating disorders, but data from several studies report that these perilous illnesses originated from psychological problems. This means that perilous illnesses are not only plain unwell eating routine, but there are also much more than (Whiteside, Chen, Neighbors, Hunter, Lo, & Larimer, 2007).
Previous research such as that conducted by Goss and Gilbert (2002) by having shown that eating disorders serve to a collaboration between a meaning of reliability in the social group and the functional aim of threats control (e.g., prevent persecution or exclusion judging by the size or weight of one's body). Self-compassion makes observation possible to see clearly, increases feelings of safety and fostering gentle encouragement to improve when needed and constructive well-being behavior (Neff, 2004). The compelling conduct that uses up every part of a person's life is an eating disorder (Johnstone & Rickard, 2006). There are some societies that are in the Western region accentuate and care about some physical appearance (e.g., looking thin) connecting thinness to a characteristic of personality which is wanted to be. They also connect thinness to cheerfulness and power (Strahan, Wilson, Cressman, & Buote, 2006). The research conducting by Adams and Leary (2007) examined the sides of depressed and delinquent eaters. Their study promotes the modification in the situation of being self-compassion when it may have exposed to a stressor or a "setback" as eating and body image. BMI might be a certain stressor for many women, handle together within the present socio-cultural climate.
Self-compassion involves seeing hard experiences as parts of common humanity. So, it may lead to recognizing troublesome eating behavior as a part of humanity. This idea can
ensure the meaning about they are not alone or abnormal and also these thoughts can animate them for researching social support (Taylor, Daiss, & Krietsch, 2015). Some findings show that self-compassion decreases the probability of eating disorder and different poor health actions and preserve people from negative body image (Breines, Toole, Tu, & Chen, 2013). Also, the other study’s finding shows that self-compassion is related to fallen body shame, fallen disordered eating, fallen weight-gain anxiety and repressed eating manner (Breines et al., 2013). In addition to the relationship between self-compassion and body image satisfaction, self-compassion consists of fewer severe justification toward self, irrespective of body features or distinctness for social ideas so these attitudes provide to be more accepted of physical faults (Wasylkiw, Mackinnon, & MacLennon, 2012). Besides, Wasylkiw et al. (2012)’s study shows that higher self-compassion is interested in fewer body occupations, less anxiety about weight and major admiration towards self-body. As a summarizing, higher levels of self-compassion are related to the fallen level of body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder. On the opposite, critical attitudes toward self is interested in eating disorder and body image dysfunctional manner. In addition, body image dissatisfaction is the pioneer to conduct thinness even if their body mass index is normative (Ferreira, Pinto-Gouveia, & Duarte, 2013).
The Aim of This Study
Recently, a considerable literature has grown up around the theme of self-compassion. It is generally agreed today that self-compassion associated with body image satisfaction and an eating disorder. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the context of self- compassion the relationship between body image satisfaction and an eating disorder.
Literature research was done toward this affiliation. In the direction of the previous research, we expect that a high level of self-compassion would be related to high-level body image satisfaction and a low-level eating disorder. We will determine the self-compassion role between body image satisfaction and eating disorder correlation.
Materials
The self-compassion scales. The self-compassion scale was developed by Kristin Neff (2003) and it was adapted to Turkish by Akın, Akın, and Abacı (2007). This scale contains 26 items and has 6 subscales: self-kindness vs. self-judgment, common humanity vs. isolation, mindfulness vs. overidentification. Items were rated on a five-point Likert scale and it ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Moreover, this scale is suitable for adults. This scale’s internal consistencies for six subscales respectively were .77, .72, .72, .80, .74, and .74; test-
retest reliability coefficients respectively were .69, .59, .66, .60, .69, .56.
Eating disorder examination. The eating disorder examination questionnaire was developed by Fairburn and Cooper (1993). It was adapted to Turkish by Yücel, Polat, İkiz, Pirim-Düşgör, Yavuz, and Sertel-Berk (2011). This scale has 33 items and it ranges between 0 and 6. It has 5 subscales: restriction, binge eating, concerns about body shape, eating concerns, weight concerns. This scales test-retest reliability is .91 and internal consistency is reported to be .93.
Body image questionnaire. This scale was developed by Berscheid, Walster, and Bohrnstedt (1973). It was adapted from English to Turkish by Gökdoğan (1988). This scale has 4 subscales and they are body general appearance, face, body members and body. This scale’s items were rated on 5 Likert points and it ranges from 1 (non-satisfied) to 5 (satisfied). This scale has 26 items for males and 25 items for females. This scale’s internal consistency is reported to be .93.
Demographic information form. The form includes 8 items that aim to obtain the participant’s general information related to our study. These items involve some topics. Such as gender, birth year, height and weight for body mass index (BMI=kg/m2), education status and some questions about the body image.
Procedure
In this study, we attempted to appreciate the relation of body image and eating disorder in the context of self-compassion. The relevance sampling procedure was used to select samples. An online survey was designed via Qualtrics to get data and it lasted 15 minutes and an ethical report was prepared, and it approved. In addition, informed consent was used for participants and data were gathered up in a week. Data were analyzed on Jamovi.
Results
The analyses were made to find a correlation between self-compassion, body image satisfaction and an eating disorder. According to these analyses, there is a meaningful and negative correlation between self-compassion and eating disorder (r = -.306, p = <.001). A meaningful and positive correlation was obtained between body mass index and eating disorder (r = .354, p = <.001). A meaningful and negative correlation was obtained between body image satisfaction and eating disorder (r = -.381, p = <001). A meaningful and positive correlation was obtained between body image satisfaction and self-compassion (r = .525, p =
<.001). A meaningful and positive correlation was obtained between self-compassion and age (r = .188, p =.017). A meaningful correlation wasn’t obtained between self-compassion and body mass index (r =.04, p = .57), body image satisfaction and body mass index (r =.04, p
=.58). In addition, a meaningful and negative correlation was obtained between self-reported body image satisfaction and body image satisfaction (r = -.602, p < .001). Lastly, there is no correlation between education and any variables. Their correlation results are between self- compassion (r = .06, p = .14), between eating disorder (r = .11, p = -.12), between body mass index (r = .71, p = -.02), between body image satisfaction (r = .07, p = .13), between self- reported body image satisfaction (r = .11, p = -.12), between age (r = .11, p = -.12).
SC (Self-compassion), ED (Eating Disorder), BIS (Body Image Satisfaction), BMI (Body Image Satisfaction), E (Education), SRBIS (Self-Reported Body Image Satisfaction), PA (Physical Appearance), BM (Body Members), RE (Restricted Eating), BE (Binge Eating), BC (Body Concern), EC (Eating Concern), WC (Weight Concern).
Discussion
In this study, the hypotheses were “There is a negative correlation between self- compassion and eating disorder, positive correlation between self-compassion and body image satisfaction, negative correlation between the eating disorder and body image satisfaction.” In this study, the hypothesis and more were found. According to the result of this study, there is a negative correlation between self-compassion and eating disorder, negative correlation between body image satisfaction and an eating disorder, a positive correlation between self-compassion and body image satisfaction. These findings support Breines, Toole, Tu and Chen (2013)’s findings that self-compassion helps to decrease the rate of the eating disorder and harmful eating behavior. In this findings’ continuation, it is determined that lower body shame and unhealthy eating behavior and high self-compassion are relevant. Besides, the present study’s findings are relevant to the literature review. In addition, there is a negative correlation between self-reported body image satisfaction and
body image satisfaction so in self-reported body image satisfaction if people are satisfied with their body they marked yes (1point) and for unsatisfied, they marked no (2 points) so this result shows that if people say “I am satisfied with my body” they have high score of body image satisfaction. Moreover, a positive correlation between the eating disorder and body mass index so this shows that when people’s high eating disorder and high body mass index are correlated, or lower eating disorder and lower body mass index are correlated. This is so predictable result. Ferreira, Pinto-Gouvenia and Duarte (2013) said that body image dissatisfaction can lead to being thinness even, so they have normal body mass index.
Interestingly, there is no correlation between self-compassion and body mass index, between body image satisfaction and body mass index. This can mean that people’s self-compassion and body image satisfaction are not related to their body mass index so people who are thin or fat can have self-compassion and body image satisfaction independently. Unfortunately, education does not have any correlation between any variables according to these results. Its reason can be that most of our participants are high education level, if the participants would separate as a different rate, education may have some correlations with variables. Moreover, these findings present an interesting result, there is a positive correlation between self- compassion and age, so it shows that when people grow up their acceptance of their weaknesses and failures increases and they feel more compassion about themselves.
Limitation
In this study, we collected 312 data from 18-55 age people who do not have diagnosed clinical eating disorder and we prepared two conditioned questions about their ages and health situation about eating disorder so a lot of people elected from these questions and our survey has too much question and engrossing questions, so a lot of people left half this survey. Thus, we could not use 312 people we deleted unfinished answers and people’s answers who elected from conditioned questions and also to get normal distribution we deleted extreme data.
Therefore 164 data were used. Future studies should arrive more people and they should analyze the correlation of gender and cultural factor with these variables. Because gender and especially cultural differences can affect individual’s self-compassion and body image satisfaction. In addition, individual’s parental behaviors in their early childhood can affect their eating disorder, self-compassion and body image satisfaction so the correlation between parental attitudes and these variables. We did not use people who have clinical eating disorder. Therefore, future studies can research these correlations in context of differences between clinical eating disorder and nonclinical disorder.
Conclusion
In this research, we found a positive correlation between self-compassion and body image satisfaction, negative correlation between self-compassion and age; in contrast to a negative correlation between an eating disorder and body image satisfaction, and also a negative correlation between self-compassion and eating disorder. Interestingly, there is no correlation between education and any variables. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between self- compassion and age, so, this finding may contribute to a prominent result for positive psychology. Our findings provide some substantial indications for health psychology studies in Turkey.
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