Body image-related cognitive fusion and disordered eating: the role of self-compassion and sad mood

Purpose: The extent to which body image-related thoughts are endorsed and drive behaviors, a process known as Body Image-Related Cognitive Fusion (BI-CF), is an important contributor to disordered eating. Moreover, negative mood and negative self-referential processes (e.g., low self-compassion) have been reportedly associated with disordered eating; however, their associations with BI-CF are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate, among young adults, the association between (1) BI-CF and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (2) BI-CF and self-compassion, and (3) whether sad mood influences BI-CF.

Method: Participants completed online questionnaires that assessed BI-CF, self-compassion, negative affect, cognitive reactivity and disordered eating (N = 601). A subsample (n = 51) underwent an in-lab session in which they were exposed to a validated psychological sad mood induction task followed by the assessment of BI-CF.

Results: 67.8% of variation in disordered eating was accounted for by BI-CF while controlling for covariates. Self-compassion was the strongest predictor of BI-CF levels, irrespective of other eating disorder or depression risk factors (p < 0.001). Increases in sad mood did not influence levels of BI-CF.

Conclusion: The endorsement of body image-related thoughts seems to play an important role in disordered eating. Compassionate self-responding may have positive influences on reducing negative body image-related thoughts. Furthermore, BI-CF appears to be a relatively stable phenomenon, irrespective of change in mood state. Results offer implications for the improvements in prevention and intervention models targeted towards disordered eating through self-compassion and cognitive defusion.

Level of evidence: Part I: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study. Part II: Level I, experimental study.