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

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Abstract
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.
Funding Information
  • The Duke Endowment

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