A daily diary study of self-compassion, body image, and eating behavior in female college students

A study noticed that self-compassion may benefit eating habits and body image. Not only from being a generally self-compassionate person. But also from treating oneself with more self-compassion than usual on that particular day.

Study on the Clinical Impact of Self-Compassion: Enhancing Body Image and Eating Habits

Practicing self-compassion undoubtedly brings positive changes to the lives of those who actively engage in it. Let us delve into the question, if self compassion has any clinical significance. Studies largely show that self-compassion leads to a healthier body image and better eating behavior. However, it is worth noting here that these findings have generally emerged at the between-persons level only.

Eminent psychologists from the University of Waterloo conducted a study. Investigating the unique contributions of within-person and between-person self-compassion variability in self-compassion contexts. With respect to body image besides eating behavior.

The study included 92 female college students. For seven days, students nightly measured self-compassion, dietary restraint, self-esteem, intuitive eating, and body image satisfaction. Multilevel modeling of the data represented that within-persons, day-to-day fluctuations in self-compassion contributed to day-to-day changes in both body image and eating.

On the other hand, between-person participants’ average levels of self-compassion across days contributed to their average levels of body image besides the eating over the week.

These results generally held true when controlling for self-esteem differences within and between individuals. The study observed that self-compassion benefits eating habits and body image not only through general self-compassion but also by treating oneself with extra self-kindness on specific days. Daily self-compassion can improve body image and eating behaviors, underscoring the significance of self-kindness in developing a healthier self-relationship. This research highlights that both overall self-compassion and specific daily self-compassionate actions contribute to these positive outcomes, demonstrating how consistently practicing self-compassion can lead to significant improvements in one’s well-being.