Compassion-Based Interventions to Facilitate Positive Body Image and Embodiment

2019 ◽  
pp. 265-276
Author(s):  
Allison C. Kelly ◽  
Kathryn E. Miller ◽  
Kiruthiha Vimalakanthan ◽  
Jessica R. Dupasquier ◽  
Sydney Waring
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Positive Body Image ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Compassion Focused Therapy ◽  
Mixed Gender ◽  
Overweight Or Obesity ◽  
Improve Health

A growing number of interventions for body image and eating disorders now seek to build individuals’ capacities for self-compassion and other-compassion. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) helps self-critical individuals to relate to themselves and others from a more compassionate mindset and to grow more comfortable receiving compassion from others. Though more empirical research is needed, preliminary studies revealed that in women with eating disorders, body image preoccupation, or the presence of overweight or obesity, CFT-based interventions can reduce eating pathology, decrease shame, improve body image, increase capacities for self-compassion and other-compassion, and improve health. In addition, mindfulness meditations that focus on the cultivation of self-compassion and other-compassion have been found to improve body image-related experiences, including body appreciation. It will be important to extend the extant research by conducting larger scale studies of compassion-based interventions in mixed-gender samples with a greater focus on assessing positive body image outcomes.

Promoting Positive Body Image and Embodiment in Schools

2019 ◽  
pp. 346-359
Author(s):  
Zali Yager
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Media Literacy ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Positive Body Image ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Program Content

Body image programming has been implemented in schools to varying degrees of success, but to date, no programs specific to positive body image have been developed and evaluated. This chapter reviews programs that have been effective in improving body image to determine whether the elements of positive body image and embodiment have been present in program content. Some elements of positive body image, such as media literacy and critiquing stereotypes, were present in all five programs conducted with children (<12 years), and all eight programs conducted with adolescents (13–18 years). Additionally, agency (through activism and voice) and broadly conceptualizing beauty were often present in children’s programs, and resisting objectification and agency were often present in adolescent programs. Only one program included the Body Appreciation Scale as a measure of program effectiveness. Potential future directions for programs are discussed, including the incorporation of positive movement, mindfulness, and self-compassion.

scholarly journals The Nature of Positive Body Image: Examining Associations Between Nature Exposure, Self-Compassion, Functionality Appreciation, and Body Appreciation

Ecopsychology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
David Barron ◽  
Ranjeev Hari ◽  
Simmy Grover ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Positive Body Image ◽  
Self Compassion

scholarly journals Cognitive fusion: Maladaptive emotion regulation endangering body image appreciation and related eating behaviours

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S556-S557 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Marta-Simões ◽  
C. Ferreira ◽  
A.L. Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Cognitive Fusion ◽  
Positive Body Image

Body image-related cognitive fusion is described as the perception that undesired and distressing internal events related to body image are reliable representations of reality. This maladaptive emotion regulation process is known for its impact on human suffering, namely eating psychopathology. On the contrary, body appreciation is a positive body image construct, defined as an attitude of acceptance and affection toward one's body image characteristics, despite some level of dissatisfaction. Although body appreciation associates negatively with several pathogenic processes, its relationship with body image-related cognitive fusion is still unexplored. The present study intended to analyse the power of body image related cognitive fusion regarding its impact on body appreciation, and also on the engagement in disordered eating. The study's sample comprised 308 women, aged between 18 and 35. A path model tested the mediator role of body image related cognitive fusion in the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and body appreciation, and eating disorders symptomatology, controlled for the effect of body mass index.The tested model accounted for 67% of the variance of disordered eating. Body image related cognitive fusion appeared as a significant mediator of the association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation. Body appreciation presented a significant direct effect on eating disorders symptomatology. These findings highlight the disturbing effect of cognitive fusion related to body image on the construction of a positive body image, presenting an impact on the engagement in disordered eating. In this line, cognitive fusion may be a pertinent target in clinical practice and also within eating disorders prevention.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Ferreira ◽  
José Pinto-Gouveia ◽  
Cristiana Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
The Face

Reducing Body Image–Related Distress in Women With Breast Cancer Using a Structured Online Writing Exercise: Results From the My Changed Body Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (19) ◽  
pp. 1930-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry A. Sherman ◽  
Astrid Przezdziecki ◽  
Jessica Alcorso ◽  
Christopher Jon Kilby ◽  
Elisabeth Elder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Compassion

Purpose Breast cancer treatment adverse effects result in one in three survivors experiencing body image–related distress (BID) that negatively impacts on a woman’s ability to recover after cancer and into survivorship. My Changed Body (MyCB) is a Web-based psychological intervention to alleviate BID and improve body appreciation in survivors of breast cancer (BCSs) through a single-session, self-compassion focused writing activity. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of MyCB on BID and body appreciation in BCSs. The moderating effect of lymphedema status (affected or unaffected) and appearance investment (self-importance placed on personal appearance) and the mediating effect of self-compassion were evaluated. Patients and Methods Women (disease-free stage I to III BCSs who had experienced at least one negative event related to bodily changes after breast cancer) were randomly assigned to MyCB (n = 149) or an expressive writing control arm (n = 155). Primary outcomes were reduction in BID and improvement in body appreciation 1 week after intervention. Secondary outcomes included psychological distress (depression and anxiety) and self-compassion. Follow-up assessments occurred 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after writing. Results Compliance with the MyCB intervention was 88%, and attrition was 9.2%. Intent-to-treat linear mixed models indicated that participants who received MyCB reported significantly less BID ( P = .035) and greater body appreciation ( P = .004) and self-compassion ( P < .001) than expressive writing participants. Intervention effects on BID were moderated by lymphedema status ( P = .007) and appearance investment ( P = .042). Self-compassion mediated effects on both primary outcomes. Therapeutic effects were maintained at 1 month (BID and body appreciation) and 3 months (body appreciation) after intervention. Significant reductions in psychological distress (1-month depression, P = .001; 1-week and 1-month anxiety, P = .007) were evident for MyCB participants with lymphedema. Conclusion This study supports the efficacy of MyCB for reducing BID and enhancing body appreciation among BCSs.

The protective role of self-compassion for women’s positive body image: an open replication and extension

Body Image ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 136-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn A. Siegel ◽  
Katarina L. Huellemann ◽  
Courtney C. Hillier ◽  
Lorne Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Positive Body Image ◽  
Self Compassion

scholarly journals Pengaruh Socio-cultural Influences dan Self-Compassion terhadap Apresiasi Tubuh Wanita: Social Appearance Comparison sebagai Mediator

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-63
Author(s):  
Imanurul Aisha Rahardjo ◽  
Bagus Takwin ◽  
Imelda Ika Dian Oriza
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Standard Condition ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Mental Picture ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Appearance Comparison ◽  
The Relationship

Self-image in general is an important part of humans. Having an ideal body shape according to the perceptions and norms that develop in society is usually a standard condition to be considered to be attractive. Self-image view is closely related to body image; mental picture of a person, cognitive and emotional assessments of himself, and approximately other people's judgments about the shape and size of his body. A positive body image is a multifaceted construct that is not simple so that it is not only a target of self-criticism but also an attitude of respect and self-acceptance which is called body appreciation. The purpose of this study was to find out the role of sociocultural influences and self-compassion on individual body appreciation and the presumption of the role of social appearance comparison variables as mediators between self-compassion and body appreciation. Participant were individuals aged 20-40 years consisting of 84 women. This research was conducted using multiple regression analysis. The results of the analysis, self-compassion contributed 21.7% to body appreciation and the proof of social appearance comparison mediated partially the relationship between self-compassion and body appreciation.

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