Two sides of the self-love coin: Self-compassion text-only posts and body positive photo-based content both positively affect body image

Abstract

Although body-positive content is associated with increased positive body image, concerns regarding the continued focus on appearance have emerged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether self-compassion text-only content provided benefits beyond traditional photo-based body positivity content. Undergraduates (n = 283; 179 women, 104 men) were randomly assigned to view body positive photos, self-compassion text-only content, or architectural images (control condition). Participants assigned to both experimental conditions demonstrated a significant increase in measures of state body appreciation, state body satisfaction, and state self-compassion, however they did not differ significantly from each other. The self-compassion condition also differed significantly from the control condition. Trait appearance comparisons moderated the relationship between experimental condition and state body appreciation and state body satisfaction, and gender did not affect the relationship between condition and the outcome measures. Results of this study support the inclusion of body-positivity images and self-compassion text-only content in social media interventions for improving body image for men and women.