Body Dissatisfaction in African American Females: Self-Compassion Mediating Sociocultural Factors
Abstract
The present study explored the relationship between sociocultural factors and body dissatisfaction among African American women. The current study also examined if self-compassion can mediate these relationships. The sample (N = 88) included African American female college students. Results of the bivariate analyses indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between upward appearance-focused comparisons and body dissatisfaction and social pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction. Results of the four-step mediation analysis showed that self-compassion partially mediates the relationship between social pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction. In addition, results of the four-step mediation analysis showed that self-compassion fully mediates the relationship between upward appearance-focused social comparison and body dissatisfaction. In conclusion, African American college females who engage in upward appearance-focused comparisons and experience social pressure to be thin are at risk for developing the negative psychological consequence, body dissatisfaction. Mental health professionals can foster self-compassion in females an effort to decrease the impact of social pressure to be thin and engaging in upward appearance-focused social comparison on body dissatisfaction.
Subject Area
African American Studies|Womens studies|Counseling Psychology|Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Kesha S Patrice,
"Body Dissatisfaction in African American Females: Self-Compassion Mediating Sociocultural Factors"
(2019).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI13856366.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI13856366