Self-disgust and urge to be thin in eating disorders: how can self-compassion help?

Purpose This study aimed to examine the moderator role of self-compassion in the relationship between self-disgust and drive for thinness, controlling for external shame, in eating disorder patients and in a community sample. Methods Sixty-two female participants with an eating disorder diagnose and 119 female participants from the community, were asked to fill instruments that assess self-disgust, self-compassion, drive for thinness, and external shame. Results We found a moderator effect of self-compassion on the association between self-disgust and drive for thinness in the clinical sample when adjusting for shame. The association between self-disgust and drive for thinness was buffered among those who reported medium and lower levels of self-compassion. Replicating the findings in the community sample we found no moderator effect of self-compassion. Conclusion These results provide evidence that people with eating disorders who perceive the self as highly disgusting may benefit from promoting a self-compassionate response to diminish drive for thinness.