Determining the potential links of self-compassion with eating pathology and body image among women and men: A cross-sectional mediational study

This study examined whether rumination, shame, self-criticism, and perfectionism mediate the previously established link between self-compassion both eating body image concerns. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by a community sample of non-clinical adult women (n = 369) men 201). Participants standardised measures (predictor), external self-criticism (mediating variables), pathology (criterion variables). Path analyses confirmed that higher serially linked to lower dissatisfaction through comparative shame. Compared with women, association weaker in men. However, there were no mediating effects perfectionism, or internalized self-criticism. Overall results indicate notable similarities men, emphasise potential value targeting shame during disorder prevention treatment. Longitudinal these constructs is warranted future research.