Measuring, Characterizing, and Investigating the Novel Construct of Compassionate Self-Responding in Physical Activity in Women
Abstract
Physical activity behaviour is strongly associated with mental and physical health benefits, yet women consistently report lower levels of engagement and enjoyment in physical activity compared to men. Gendered experiences of distress within physical activity may be one reason for this gender disparity. The motivation to respond in self-compassionate ways may represent one potential strategy that women can use to navigate distress in physical activity. Self-compassionate responding may offer an alternative paradigm for sustaining physical activity engagement in women and reducing this longstanding gender disparity. The overarching aim of this dissertation was to conduct three studies exploring the novel construct of compassionate self-responding in physical activity in terms of its measurement, characteristics, and links to physical activity behaviour among women. In Study 1, I piloted, developed, and evaluated a measure for compassionate self-responding in physical activity and tested a conceptual path model linking psychosocial factors to women’s physical activity behaviour through compassionate self-responding. In Study 2, I conducted a reflexive thematic analysis with women who practiced self-compassion in physical activity to better understand gendered sources of distress in physical activity and motivational frameworks of self-compassion in this context. In Study 3, I examined within-person associations between gendered sources of distress (e.g., body comparisons, self-objectification) and compassionate self-responding in physical activity, and between compassionate self-responding in physical activity and physical activity behaviour in women using a daily diary approach. Findings across the studies revealed that certain gendered psychosocial factors were indirectly linked to physical activity behaviour through compassionate self-responding among women (Study 1), that compassionate self-responding in physical activity may have unique qualities that are distinct from general self-compassion (Study 2), and that although there was intra-individual variation in compassionate self-responding, these fluctuations were not linked to women’s physical activity behaviour at the within-person level (Study 3). Individuals reported distinct patterns in the relationship between compassionate self-responding and physical activity behaviour (Study 3). Taken together, results suggest that motivational and socio-contextual applications of self-compassion in physical activity warrant further investigation. Additionally, women’s compassionate self-responding in physical activity may have distinct trait- and state-like properties and may vary across situations and individuals.