Shipley, C
(2019)
The relationship between self-compassion and eating behaviour.
Doctor of Clinical Psychology thesis, University of Liverpool.
|
Text
201227273_Jun2019.pdf - Unspecified Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Introduction: Self-compassion involves responding to oneself with warmth and understanding rather than self-criticism. Emerging evidence suggests a negative association between self-compassion and disordered eating; however, the mediators of this relationship are unclear. This study aimed to identify psychological mediators in a community sample of restrained eaters. Higher self-compassion is also associated with higher psychological flexibility and lower distress; therefore, the following mediators were explored: distress, flexible responses to self-critical thoughts (FoReST), flexible goals and how realistic goals are, and flexible restraint. Methods: Eighty-eight adults from a community sample, who were highly restrained eaters (Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire Restraint Scale), were included in the analyses. Questionnaires were completed using an online platform; self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale), uncontrolled eating (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Disinhibition Scale), distress (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale), flexible responses to self-critical thoughts (FoReST Scale), flexible goals (Goal Adjustment Scale), how realistic goals are (5-point Likert scale), and flexible restraint (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Rigid and Flexible Control subscales). Bootstrapping using PROCESS tested the significance of the direct relationship between self-compassion and uncontrolled eating and the indirect effects via the mediators. Age and gender were controlled for in the model. Results: A significant indirect effect of (higher) self-compassion on (lower) uncontrolled eating via lower scores on the Rigid Control subscale (B= -.2028, standard error (SE) = .1, lower confidence interval (CI) = -.4218, upper CI = -.0353). No significant indirect effects via the other mediators. Conclusion: Highly restrained eaters higher in self-compassion reported significantly lower levels of uncontrolled eating, and this was partly explained by less rigid control over their eating. These findings emphasise the importance of self-compassion and flexible control in relation to dieting.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctor of Clinical Psychology) |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Jan 2020 15:45 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Jan 2023 00:21 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03059065 |
| Supervisors: |
|
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3059065 |
Dimensions
Dimensions
