Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The premise of the study is that increased self-compassion frees one to have more body appreciation and less appearance anxiety. Self-compassion is the ability to be kind to oneself in the midst of difficulties (Neff, 2003). The purpose of the study is to explore whether self-compassion influences one’s body appreciation and appearance anxiety. This study uses three scales, Self-Compassion Scale, Body Appreciation Scale, and Social Appearance Anxiety scale. Participants in the study were 125 students from one Midwestern university; 45.3% men and 53.1% women. Results indicated that the overall self-compassion mean was 37.82 out of a possible 60 points. Participants who scored higher than the mean were categorized as the ‘high self-compassion group’, while participants who scored lower than the mean were categorized as the ‘low self-compassion group’. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was conducted to compare the Body appreciation means between the high and low self-compassion groups. Results indicate that the high self-compassion group N=71 had significantly higher body appreciation means (mean =41.30) than the low self-compassion group N= 54, mean 34.41 In addition, ANOVA was conducted to compare the social appearance anxiety means between the high and low self-compassion groups. Results indicate that the high self-compassion group N=71 had significantly lower social appearance anxiety means (26.92) than the low self-compassion group N=54, mean 41.44 Self-compassion appears to be associated with body appreciation and appearance anxiety. Boosting self-compassion can free individuals to appreciate their body more - and decrease appearance anxiety.