Does paternal acception also matter? The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between parental acceptance and eating attitude

Abstract

Parental factors have received significant attention, even though eating disorders—which have been more prevalent recently—are known to involve numerous psychological components. Notably, maternal behavior and gender have been significant in studies of disordered eating and eating disorders. However, studies of paternal behavior are limited, and these studies are predominantly related to gender. Although various negative parenting behavior is associated with eat ing disorders and disordered eating behaviors, it is evident that addressing these behaviors would be more efficacious in treating unhealthy eating attitudes than working with the parents of these individuals. In this study, self-compassion was considered a formable trait and a mediating variable in the relationship between parental rejection and disordered eating behaviors. Two separate models were tested for maternal and paternal rejection, with gender as a control variable. A descriptive survey method was employed. The sample group of 456 consisted of adults who agreed to participate in the study through the consent form and filled in the self-report scales through Google Forms. The results of the study indicated that self-compassion fully mediated the relationship between maternal rejection and disordered eating behaviors, and partially mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and disordered eating behaviors. This finding indicates that self-compassion is a feature worthy of study in the treatment process of individuals with disordered eating, as well as the need for more scientific studies on paternal behaviors in disordered eating.