Relationship of Self-Compassion and Dysmorphic Concern in the Role of Appearance Contingent Self-worth among University Students

Abstract

The present study was an empirical attempt to examine the relationship of self-compassion and dysmorphic concern in the role of appearance contingent self-worth among university students. The sample of the current study was taken from the University of Sargodha (N = 335) while using multi-stage sampling. At first, four faculties from the University of Sargodha were selected through the lottery method. In the second stage departments from the four faculties were randomly selected through the lottery method. From selected departments, the fixed numbers of students (i.e., 25 students from each department) were approached based on convenience. Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale (CSW; Crocker, Luhtanen, Cooper, &Bouvrette, 2003), Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (Raes, Pommier, Neff, & Van Gucht, 2011), and Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire(DCQ; Oosthuizen, 1998) were used to
measure the relevant constructs. Theregression analysis revealed that appearance contingent self-worth (β = -.02, p > .05) and self-compassion (β = .02, p> .05) are not the predictors of dysmorphic concern. The results of the study also showed that appearance contingent self-worth is mediating the relationship between self-compassion and dysmorphic concern. In the end, limitations, suggestions, and practical implications have also been thoroughly discussed.