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. 2021 Dec:183:111130.
doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111130. Epub 2021 Jul 15.

Self-compassion mediates the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and body image disturbance: Evidence from the United Kingdom under lockdown

Viren Swami  1   2 , Jennifer Todd  1   2 , Charlotte Robinson  3 , Adrian Furnham  4
Affiliations

Self-compassion mediates the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and body image disturbance: Evidence from the United Kingdom under lockdown

Viren Swami et al. Pers Individ Dif. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and attendant lockdown mandates may have detrimental effects on body image outcomes, which in turn highlights the importance of identifying protective factors. Here, we examined associations between COVID-19-related stress and body image disturbance, as well as the potential mediating and moderating role of self-compassion. During the third lockdown in the United Kingdom, we asked an online sample of adults (N = 600) to complete measures of COVID-19-related stress, body image disturbance, and self-compassion. Mediation analysis showed that higher COVID-19-related stress was significantly associated with greater body image disturbance, and that this relationship was mediated by self-compassion. In contrast, self-compassion did not significantly moderate the effects of stress on body image disturbance. These results suggest that promoting greater self-compassion may be a viable means of mitigating adverse outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic on body image disturbance.

Keywords: Body image disturbance; COVID-19; Lockdown; Self-compassion; Stress.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Regression coefficients with standard error in brackets, all ps < .001.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Regression coefficients (with standard error) for the mediation model in women. All ps < .001.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Regression coefficients (with standard error) for the mediation model in men. All ps < .001, except *, where p = .009.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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