Self-compassion in the face of shame and body image dissatisfaction: Implications for eating disorders

The current study examines the role of self-compassion in face of shame and body image dissatisfaction, in 102 female eating disorders' patients, and 123 women from general population.Self-compassion was negatively associated with external shame, general psychopathology, and eating disorders' symptomatology. In women from the general population increased external shame predicted drive for thinness partially through lower self-compassion; also, body image dissatisfaction directly predicted drive for thinness. However, in the patients' sample increased shame and body image dissatisfaction predicted increased drive for thinness through decreased self-compassion.These results highlight the importance of the affiliative emotion dimensions of self-compassion in face of external shame, body image dissatisfaction and drive for thinness, emphasising the relevance of cultivating a self-compassionate relationship in eating disorders' patients.

► Eating disorders' patients show lower self-compassion than nonclinic subjects.
► Self-compassion may be an antidote of shame in disordered eating.
► Self-compassion mediates the effect of external shame on drive for thinness.
► Self-compassion explains body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness' association.
► Self-compassion's role increases along with the degree of disordered eating.