Exploring self-compassion among men seeking weight loss: a thematic analysis.
Natalie M Papini1, Nikole D Squires1, Amber Iola Jones2
1Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.
Summary
Self-compassion (SC) can aid men in weight loss, but interventions need tailoring. Understanding SC
Area of Science:
- Psychology and Health Behavior
- Men's Health and Well-being
- Behavioral Science and Intervention
Background:
- Self-compassion (SC) is linked to reduced eating disorder pathology and body dissatisfaction.
- Existing SC research and interventions predominantly focus on women, neglecting men's unique challenges.
- Men face distinct weight stigma and masculine norms, making SC potentially crucial for emotion regulation in health coaching.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively explore how adult men seeking weight loss interpret and experience self-compassion (SC).
- To examine men's experiences and meanings of SC within health coaching for weight loss.
- To identify perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing SC and how body image influences its application.
Main Methods:
- Employed reflexive thematic analysis on semi-structured interviews with 11 adult men in a weight-loss health coaching program.
- Focused on meaning-making and information power, integrating researcher reflexivity and positionality.
- Analyzed experiences within the context of body image, dieting, and masculinity.
Main Results:
- Identified seven key themes, including SC as a learnable skill, its concordance with self-image and gender norms, and its interplay with body image.
- Revealed SC in action through mindset and behavior, alongside barriers like weight stigma and toxic masculinity.
- Highlighted facilitators such as life experience and upbringing, and noted SC being perceived as a mask for disordered eating.
Conclusions:
- Self-compassion interventions for men in weight loss programs require tailoring to address masculine norms and weight stigma.
- Findings underscore the need to account for internalized biases when developing SC support for men.
- Future interventions should consider the specific socio-cultural contexts influencing men's engagement with self-compassion.
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