Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in men: Extension of the tripartite influence model.

Abstract

Self-compassion, an increasingly popular psychological construct, has been associated with masculine norm adherence, shame, and rumination. However, limited research has considered the relationship between self-compassion and body image; a construct that heavily overlaps with masculinity for men in contemporary Western culture. This study examined the relationship between self-compassion, body dissatisfaction, and sociocultural processes (social comparison, internalization of appearance ideals) in 231 Australian men aged between 18 and 51 years (M = 28.53, SD = 9.85). Results showed that high self-compassion, low social comparison, and low internalization predicted lower levels of body dissatisfaction. Specifically, the self-compassion subcomponents of Isolation, Mindfulness, and Common Humanity were the strongest predictors of body dissatisfaction. Additionally, self-compassion moderated the relationship between internalization of lean appearance ideals and body fat dissatisfaction. That is, lean internalization and body fat dissatisfaction were strongly correlated for men with low self-compassion, and weakly correlated for men with high self-compassion. These findings highlight the protective function that self-compassion may play within the sociocultural context of male body image. Further research is needed to understand how self-compassion interacts with measures of masculinity to predict body image outcomes for men. Public Significance StatementSelf-compassion was negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction, social comparison, and internalization of appearance ideals in adult men. Additionally, it moderated the relationship between internalization of lean appearance ideals and body fat dissatisfaction. The provision of self-compassion psychoeducation for men may be an important strategy to help buffer directly against negative body image outcomes, or the sociocultural processes that lead to body dissatisfaction within contemporary Western society.

Efficacy of the Mental Health App “Intellect” to Improve Body Image and Self-compassion in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial With a 4-Week Follow-up

“…Although significant improvements in self-compassion were found for male participants after the intervention, the effect was weaker, and not significant at follow-up. As self-compassion has been identified as a crucial factor in reducing body dissatisfaction and enhancing body appreciation in female and male participants [ 29 , 73 , 74 ], the weaker effects observed for self-compassion in male participants may have had a downstream effect and explained the lack of follow-up effects for male participants’ body dissatisfaction and body appreciation.…”

Enriching sociocultural perspectives on the effects of idealized body norms: Integrating shame, positive body image, and self-compassion

“…Conversely, in a community sample of women, the relation between external shame and drive for thinness was partially mediated by self-compassion, and the relation between body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness was not mediated by self-compassion. In a recent study of men, Maher et al (2021) found that high levels of self-compassion predicted lower levels of body dissatisfaction, and that self-compassion moderated the relation between appearance ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction such that appearance ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction were more strongly associated when self-compassion was low. Cross-sectional research has also shown that individuals with clinical eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have lower levels of self-compassion and higher levels of fear of self-compassion compared to non-clinical samples (e.g., Kelly et al, 2014b).…”

The Healthy Body Image Intervention and Reduction in Eating Disorder Symptomatology and Muscle Building Supplement Use in High School Students: A Study of Mediating Factors

“…Sociocultural frameworks has the past decade also been used to explain muscle-oriented body image and muscle building behaviors ( Rodgers et al, 2012 , 2020 ; Girard et al, 2018a , b ; Carvalho and Ferreira, 2020 ). The sociocultural theories of body image, ED symptomatology, and muscle building behaviors have been tested and modeled in cross sectional and longitudinal studies ( Rodgers et al, 2011 , 2012 , 2014 , 2015 ; Girard et al, 2018a , b ; Carvalho and Ferreira, 2020 ; Burke et al, 2021 ; Maher et al, 2021 ; Schaefer et al, 2021 ). In summary, these studies suggest that perceived appearance pressure from sociocultural sources (e.g., media, family, and peers) explains body image, ED symptomatology, and muscle building behaviors through mechanisms of appearance internalization and social comparisons.…”

“…However, only one study, and among girls only, has included self-esteem as a potential mediator for intervention effect ( Agam-Bitton et al, 2018 ). Moreover, self-compassion and body image flexibility act as moderators between appearance internalization and social comparison and ED symptomatology ( Perey and Koenigstorfer, 2020 ; Maher et al, 2021 ). This indicates that the risk of ED development caused by appearance internalization and social comparison may be outnumbered by body image flexibility and self-compassion.…”