The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Body Image with the Mental Well-Being of Female Athletes in Tehran

Subject Areas : Journal of Excellence in counseling and psychotherapy

Shadi Kabiri Agh Ziarat ¹ , Afsaneh Taheri ² , Khadijeh Abolmaali ³

1 - Ph.D. student, Department of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Roudhen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudhen, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2023-09-11 Accepted : 2023-09-11 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Women, Stress, athlete, body image,

Abstract :

Purpose:  Mental well-being can play an adaptive role in facing adverse and stressful conditions, so the aim of the research was the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between perceived stress and body image with the mental well-being of female athletes in Tehran.Methodology:  The research was applied in terms of purpose and from the point of view of data collection, it was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population was all female athletes who referred to sports clubs in Tehran in 2019, age range (20-50 years). 250 people by method Available sampling was selected. The research tools included Diener et al.'s Mental Well-Being Questionnaire (1985), Cohen, Komark and Marmelstein's Perceived Stress Questionnaire (1983), Winstead and Janda's Body Image Concern Questionnaire (1987) and Neff et al.'s self-compassion Questionnaire (2003). Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlation method and path analysis using SPSS and PLS software.Findings: In general, the path analysis showed that self-compassion played a mediating role in the path of body image to well-being, the results showed that perceived stress and self-compassion could predict mental well-being, also the path analysis showed that self-compassion in the path between perceived stress and mental well-being, it did not have the ability to play a mediating role. It played a mediating role in the path of body image to well-being.Conclusion:  According to the results, it can be concluded that strategies that increase self-compassion can provide a better picture of body image and increase the mental well-being of female athletes.