Distorted body image in women: Emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection as an effective instrument for its moderation

Abstract

Aim of the study: Dissatisfaction with one’s own body represents one of the main sources of suffering for women in various age categories. One of the potential factors reducing dissatisfaction with one’s own body is self-compassion. The aim of this study was to determine if a short-term two-week emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection, will reduce self-criticism in women, increase their self-compassion and improve satisfaction with their own body image. Methods: The research sample consisted of 64 women aged 18-55 years, mean age 31.73 yrs. (SD = 8.48), randomized into experimental and control group. Self-compassion, self-criticism and body shape dissatisfaction were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Data analysis indicated significant changes in the degree of self-compassion, self-criticism and dissatisfaction with body image on the part of the group undergoing intervention. Discussion: Similarly as in previous research, emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection turned out to be the effective tool for increasing compassion, decreasing self-criticism and enhancing body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: The study confirms the assertion that cultivating self-compassion can lower dissatisfaction with body image, and at the same time, it proves that cost-effective, distance intervention, without direct contact with a specialist, can be effective distorted body image; emotion focused training for emotion of self-compassion and self-protection; self-compassion; self-criticism SELF-CRITICISM AND BODY IMAGE Western societies emphasize and value a slender physique, which is often associated with desired personality characteristics, strength or happiness. Body image for women, therefore, often becomes a central element for self-evaluation [1]. Almost 80% of women [2] across various age categories [3] have a negative subjective view of their own bodies, which means that a substantial portion of the women population feels insecure about their body weight and is dissatisfied with their body image. This fact represents a significant problem because, according to research, dissatisfaction with one’s own body image negatively influences mental as well as Martina Baránková, Romana Sládkovičová: Institute of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia Correspondence address: martina.barankova@fses.uniba.sk Distorted body image in women: Emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection 31 Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2022; 2: 30–40 physical health [4-5]. Moreover, dissatisfaction with one’s body image can be accompanied by self-criticism [6], which is manifested by hatred, disgust and contempt for oneself, particularly if they are associated with serious mental suffering [7]. Self-criticism is associated significantly with body image dissatisfaction [6]. According to Ferreira et al. [8], self-criticism is considered a maladaptive defensive strategy associated with pathogenic effects, which leads to increased negative impact and feelings of being inferior and defective, which then contributes to feelings of shame and perpetuates a degrading self-critical vicious cycle. Being ashamed of one’s body image, which can lead to self-criticism, includes a negative view of the fact that body image can be a source of negative self-evaluation and is the result of defective, defensive behavior such as, for example, avoiding looking at one’s body, hiding and rigid self-control [9], (e.g. avoiding mirrors and social situations where one’s body would be more on display; [8]). However, these defensive reactions have a paradoxical effect because they increase the pathogenic influence of feeling shame on a person’s life, particularly, an individual’s psychological and interpersonal functioning [8]. In our society, it is women, who are undergoing a socialization process, which can teach them to put appearance above accomplishment [10], and yet, incorrect body size perception in women can lead to fatal diseases such as anorexia nervosa [11]. It is interesting that Casper et al. [12] found no difference in the degree of body image distortion between an experimental group of women and women suffering from anorexia nervosa – both groups overestimated the size of their body parts but were able to correctly estimate the size of a block of wood. Research shows that body image dissatisfaction has a detrimental effect on mental and physical health of women as well as men because it is connected with higher level of depression [4], anxiety [13], feelings of worthlessness [14] as well as lower levels of self-respect [15], and disordered eating [16], including disturbed eating habits (e.g. rigid diets and bulimia [5] and eating disorders [17]. REASONS BEHIND PROLIFIC BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION There are several possible explanations for the pervasive body image dissatisfaction. One possibility is the self-discrepancy theory [18], which states that the difference between the perceived actual and the ideal body of an individual or the inability to reach this ideal body can lead to emotional suffering. Narrow cultural norms disregard the naturally occurring variety of body types, which makes the attraction ideal unrealistic and unattainable. For example, based on cultural norms, the idea is that women should look young, tall, and thin with a low ratio of waist to hips [19]. This discrepancy between the actual and the ideal body then manifests itself as body image dissatisfaction [20]. Another explanation is based on the objectification theory [21], which supposes that uncontrolled objectification of women’s bodies in a society leads to acculturation and internalization of this objectification. Young women in Western societies experience constant examination and evaluation of their appearance by other people and thereby receiving a message that their bodies are the primary source of their worth and