Stimulating appearance comparison dynamics and their effects on psychological dysfunctions: The moderating role of self-compassion

Nawaz, Humma, Rabia, Mahwish, Javed, Hubba, Yousaf, Muhammad, Mahmood, Shahid and Riaz, Muhammad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5512-1745 2023. Stimulating appearance comparison dynamics and their effects on psychological dysfunctions: The moderating role of self-compassion. PLoS ONE 18 (11) , e0293798. 10.1371/journal.pone.0293798

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Abstract

In recent decades, attitudes towards appearance comparison, and self-disapproval have rapidly increased, and these are attitudes strongly associated with psychological disorders. The present study aims to investigate the underlying patterns of depression, appearance-based stress, dietary constraints, and social and celebrity appearance comparison among young adults. It also examines the role of self-compassion in moderating the relationship between psychological dysfunctions and appearance comparison as well as the criteria and influences contributing to appearance comparison. Data on BMI, the measures of depression, appearance-based stress, eating restraints, appearance comparison, self-compassion, and predictors of peers and celebrity appearance comparison were collected from 434 college students (Age: Mean = 22; SD = 2.36; Male = Female = 217) in Sialkot, Pakistan. The data was analyzed by using the Hierarchical Regression Model. The results revealed that respondents who compared their appearances to peers and celebrities had increased depression and appearance-based stress while eating constraints didn’t affect the appearance-based comparison, stress, and depression. Moreover, self-compassion significantly moderated the relationship between depression, appearance-based stress, and appearance comparison whereas an insignificant moderation effect is observed between eating restraints and self-compassion. Despite psychological distresses such as depression, appearance-based stress, and eating restraints, appearance comparisons are connected to appearance-based victimization, media appearance pressure, social-cultural appearance pressure, appearance conversation, and self-consciousness.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 November 2023
Date of Acceptance:	20 October 2023
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2023 09:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/163786

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