Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 33, July 2024
Authors
Tania Fonseca Rodrigues, Isabel Baenas, Carol Coelho, Rita Ramos, ... Paulo P.P. Machado
Abstract
Introduction
Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are transdiagnostic in eating disorders (EDs). Self-compassion impacts ED-related outcomes by either preventing their initial establishment or interrupting/modifying their ongoing detrimental impact. Studies conducted in mixed samples found significantly lower levels of self-compassion in ED clinical samples. The main goal in this study was to explore the clinical profile presentation (in terms of transdiagnostic psychological processes) of participants within a continuum of eating psychopathology levels, through a two-step cluster analysis.
Methods
The ED clinical sample comprised 94 women aged between 18 and 60 years old (M = 29.5, SD = 10.2). The college sample included 274 female students aged between 18 and 56 years old (M = 21.2, SD = 4.7).
Results
Self-compassion facets significantly predicted overall difficulties in ER in both samples (clinical, F(6, 81) = 20.57, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.60; college, F(6, 267) = 22.64, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.34). The two-step cluster analysis resulted in an optimal solution of three clusters: low profile– C1; intermediate profile – C2; and severe profile – C3. Self-criticism and self-compassion were the strongest predictor variables, contributing 100% and 98%, respectively, to clustering membership. Self-compassion was a significant moderator on the relationship between difficulties in ER and eating psychopathology (b = −0.02, t(357) = 3.38, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.43).
Discussion
Fostering self-compassionate skills and addressing self-criticism and experiential avoidance (including experiential therapeutic components) as they become prominent during the therapeutic process, may be influential to successfully implement specific ER skills and enhance therapeutic gains.