Body Image, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Well-Being among University Students

Article Title: Body Image, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Well-Being among University Students

Author(s): Aliya Abbasi and Aisha Zubair

Institute(s); National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2015, Vol. 13, No.1, 41-47

Correspondence Address: Aisha Zubair, National Institute of Psychology Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; e-mail: aishazubair@nip.edu.pk

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was twofold; firstly, to determine the relationship among self-compassion, body image, and psychological well-being of university students; and secondly, to determine the role of various demographics (gender and parental education) in relation to variables of the study. The sample consisted of 123 male and 177 female students from universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. We used Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (Cash, 2002), and Affectometer-2 (Naheed, 1997) to measure self-compassion, body image, and psychological well-being, respectively. Results of the study showed that self-compassion was significantly positively related with psychological well-being and body-image. Similarly body-image was positively related with psychological well-being. Self-compassion and body-image significantly predicted the psychological well-being among these students. Moreover, self-compassion mediated the relationship between body image and psychological well-being. Results also revealed significant gender differences on body image; however, non-significant gender differences were found on self-compassion and psychological well-being. Findings further indicated that students with higher maternal and paternal education reflected higher self-compassion, better body image, and elevated levels of psychological well-being.

Keywords: self-compassion, body-image, psychological well-being, students.

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