Background & Purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between emotional alexithymia and self-compassion and body image concerns in female high school students.
Method: The research method was correlational. The statistical population included female high school students in District 22 of Tehran (N=2500). According to the Krejci-Morgan table, a sample of 260 was selected using convenience sampling. Research tools were the MBSRQ Body Image Questionnaire, Toronto Emotional Alexithymia Scale (Bagby et al., 2000), and Self-Compassion Questionnaire (Reese et al., 2011). Data were analysed using Pearson correlation and regression analysis.
Results: There was a significant positive relationship between body image concerns and emotional alexithymia (r=.283, p<.01) and between body image concerns and self-compassion (r=.831, p<.01). These two variables predicted 71% of body image concerns variance, with self-compassion being a stronger predictor (β=.806).
Conclusion: Alexithymia and self-compassion are factors affecting body image concerns in students.