Body‐related self‐conscious emotions, self‐compassion, and dietary restraint in Canadian undergraduate university students: A multilevel mediation and moderation analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveSelf‐compassion has an inverse association with dietary restraint however, the mechanisms linking self‐compassion and dietary restraint are not clear. This study aimed to determine to what extent self‐compassion was inversely concurrently related to dietary restraint, indirectly through body‐related self‐conscious emotions, and to what extent trait self‐compassion moderated the concurrent within‐person association between body‐related self‐conscious emotions and dietary restraint.MethodData was collected from 224 Canadian university students who reported on trait self‐compassion at baseline and body‐related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment, and dietary restraint biweekly between November 2020 and August 2021.ResultsResults from a 2‐1‐1 multilevel mediation model showed that trait self‐compassion was indirectly concurrently related to dietary restraint through body‐related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment. Results from the moderation model showed that there was a significant positive concurrent within‐person association between body‐related shame, envy, and embarrassment, but not guilt, with dietary restraint. These relationships were not moderated by trait self‐compassion.DiscussionThis study adds to our understanding of the concurrent association between body‐related self‐conscious emotions and dietary restraint, and the mechanisms through which self‐compassion is related to dietary restraint. Given body‐related self‐conscious emotions were related to dietary restraint at both the within‐person and between‐person level, both compassion‐focused interventions that aim to improve general levels of body‐related self‐conscious emotions and interventions that aim to overcome spikes in these emotions compared with one's usual level are warranted.Public Significance StatementNegative body‐related self‐conscious emotions were related to higher levels of dietary restraint both across individuals and within individuals over time; and may play a mechanistic role in linking self‐compassion with dietary restraint. Interventions aimed at reducing negative body‐related self‐conscious emotions are warranted in the prevention of eating disorder psychopathology.