The Moderating Role of Self-compassion on the Relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Appreciation and Eating Disorders Symptoms: A Descriptive Study

Background: Nowadays, thinness is generally considered as a standard of women's beauty, and high BMI is associated with negative physical and psychological consequences among women, including Negative body image and eating disorders. Therefore, identifying the effective factors in reducing these outcomes is necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between body mass index, body image and symptoms of eating disorders. Methods: The research method was correlation and the statistical population was all female students of Tehran in 2018 that Among them, 345 students were selected by convenient sampling. Measurement tools included Eating Disorders Diagnostic Scale (EDDS), Self-compassion Measurement Scale (SCS) and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis (hierarchical method). Results: The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between body mass index and eating disorder (P <0.01), and a significant negative correlation with body appreciation and self-compassion (P <0.01). On the other hand, the results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that self-compassion moderates the relationship between body mass index and symptoms of eating disorders, but it did not moderate the relationship between body mass index and body appreciation. Conclusion: These findings showed that self-compassion may protect women against negative consequences of a high body mass index. As a result, self-compassion can be beneficial in improving mental health and preventing disorders.