Structural Equation Modeling of Body Image Concern and Psychological Distress with the Mediating Role of Self-Criticism among Students
Subject Areas :Samin Afshari 1 , Fatemeh Nazari 2 *
1 - M.A. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Email: Samin.Afshari79@yahoo.com
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran (Corresponding Author).
Keywords: Keywords: Body image concern, psychological distress, self-criticism, structural equation modeling, students,
Abstract :
Abstract Considering the scarcity of research on the mediating role of self-criticism in the relationship between body image concern and psychological distress among Iranian university students, this study aimed to examine this relationship and model it using structural equation modeling. The research specifically addressed the structural equation modeling of body image concern and psychological distress, with self-criticism as a mediating variable, among students of the Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of body image concern on psychological distress and the mediating role of self-criticism in this relationship. The research method was applied in terms of purpose; descriptive-correlational of the structural equation modeling type in terms of data collection; and quantitative in terms of data nature. The statistical population consisted of all students at the Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, during the 2023-2024 academic year, totaling 12,000 individuals. Using cluster and simple random sampling, 384 students were selected as the sample. The research instruments included the Littleton et al. (2005) Body Image Concern Questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist (SCL-25-R) by Derogatis (2000), and the Self-Criticism Scale by Thompson and Zuroff (2000). Data were analyzed using SPSS and PLS software. Statistical analyses revealed that body image concern had both a direct effect (β = 0.905, p < 0.001) and an indirect effect via self-criticism (β = 0.930, p < 0.001) on psychological distress. The final model explained 82% of the variance in psychological distress, indicating a very high predictive power of the studied variables. These findings suggest that self-criticism serves as an important psychological mechanism in transmitting the effect of body image concern to psychological distress. Therefore, interventions such as compassion-based therapy, aimed at reducing self-criticism and enhancing self-acceptance, could be effective in improving mental health among students. These results may be useful for mental health professionals and educational policymakers in designing targeted preventive and therapeutic programs. Despite the cross-sectional nature of the study, which limits causal inference, it is recommended that future research use longitudinal and interventional designs to assess the effectiveness of approaches focused on reducing self-criticism and to confirm the observed relationships.
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