Fidan Turk
University of Sheffield, UK
Title: Does self-compassion play a role in eating pathology and body image? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Biography
Biography: Fidan Turk
Abstract
Eating disorders and body image concerns are severe mental health conditions, with substantial consequences for health and quality of life, so it is important to consider treatments that might enhance our ability to treat such cases. Recently, there has been a growing body of research on self-compassion in relation to such problems. However, we are not yet clear about the extent of such effects, given the range of studies and methodologies used. This paper reports on the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis that considers the size of such an effect and the factors that might moderate its relationship with eating and body image psychopathology.
Method: A systematic literature review was carried out using three key databases (Web of Science, Psychinfo, PubMed), and meta-analysis was used to reach firm conclusions about the size of the effects and moderators, across a range of correlational and experimental studies. Results: The effect of compassion in isolation was relatively small, though it showed some potential to add to the effects of other interventions. Discussion: The value of compassion as an intervention or preventative factor for eating and body image issues might lie more in its ability to add to other therapies, rather than as an alternative to those other interventions.