Self-compassion, body image, and disordered eating: A review of the literature

• Self-compassion (SC) reviewed in relation to body image (BI), eating pathology (EP).
• SC consistently linked to lower EP, improved BI.
• SC buffered effects of most variables’ relation to EP and related constructs.
• In aggregate, beneficial role suggested for SC in relation to EP, BI.
• Results and methodological heterogeneity indicate need for future investigation.

Self-compassion, treating oneself as a loved friend might, demonstrates beneficial associations with body image and eating behaviors. In this systematic review, 28 studies supporting the role of self-compassion as a protective factor against poor body image and eating pathology are reviewed. Findings across various study designs consistently linked self-compassion to lower levels of eating pathology, and self-compassion was implicated as a protective factor against poor body image and eating pathology, with a few exceptions. These findings offer preliminary support that self-compassion may protect against eating pathology by: (a) decreasing eating disorder-related outcomes directly; (b) preventing initial occurrence of a risk factor of a maladaptive outcome; (c) interacting with risk factors to interrupt their deleterious effects; and (d) disrupting the mediational chain through which risk factors operate. We conclude with suggestions for future research that may inform intervention development, including the utilization of research designs that better afford causal inference.