An empirical phenomenology of young adult women exercisers' body self-compassion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore young adult women exercisers' body self-compassion. Five women between the ages of 23 and 28 years participated, and their interviews were analysed using an empirical phenomenology method. Three essential structures emerged: appreciating one's unique body, taking ownership of one's body and engaging in less social comparison. A facilitating structure, the importance of others, is also discussed. The findings of this study are consistent with the general conceptualisation of self-compassion previously proposed without merely replicating the three components of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.