The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between perceived parenting attitudes and body image coping strategies in university students

The study aims to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and body image coping strategies in university students in emerging adulthood and to guide new studies on this subject. In this direction, data were collected from 350 university students between the ages of 18-25, living in Istanbul, and the analysis was made with the data of 252 people in total by removing the participants who did not meet the criteria. In order to collect data, Demographic Information Form, Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale-Child Form, Body Image Coping Strategies Scale and Self-Compassion Scale were used. Mean, Frequency, Percentage Distribution and Standard Deviation Calculations, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Independent Groups T-test, One Way ANOVA and Mediation analyzes were used in the analysis of the research data. According to the results of the research, the significant mediating role of self-compassion was found in the relations between the subscales of perceived parental attitudes and the body image coping strategies. In the relationships between the variables, positive correlations were found between parents' emotional warmth and positive logical acceptance strategy and self-compassion level, and negative correlations were found between the strategies of appearance correction and avoidance. A positive relationship was also found between self-compassion and positive logical acceptance. Negative relationships were found between maternal and paternal overprotection and maternal rejection, and avoidance and appearance correction strategies. The study findings were evaluated with the relevant literature.