Correlates of Positive Body Image: Self-Compassion and Empathy among Senior High School Students

Abstract

Body image has emerged as a significant concern among adolescents, influenced by social pressures and idealized digital media standards. This study examined the extent to which self-compassion and empathy predict positive body image among 251 senior high school students at Junob National High School, Dumaguete City. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were gathered through standardized survey instruments assessing dimensions of self-compassion, empathy, and positive body image (body appreciation and effectiveness). Findings revealed that students "sometimes" manifested self-compassion, with "often" ratings for self-kindness and balance/acceptance. Respondents "strongly agreed" that they applied empathy, particularly in affective drive, and demonstrated high levels of positive body image. Correlation analysis showed that self-compassion had a significant moderate positive relationship with positive body image (p < .05), whereas empathy showed a significant but weak positive relationship. Specifically, self-kindness and balance/acceptance were meaningful predictors of body appreciation. It was concluded that while both traits are beneficial, internal factors like self-compassion play a more substantial role in fostering healthy body perceptions than interpersonal empathy alone. Consequently, school-based mental health interventions should prioritize the development of self-kindness and self-acceptance to proactively strengthen adolescents' resilience against body dissatisfaction and social comparison.