(PS5-69) Relations among food insecurity, self-compassion, and eating disorder symptoms in college students

Abstract Text: College students are at high risk for developing an eating disorder (ED) and experiencing food insecurity. Between 20 and 50% of college students experience food insecurity, the state of being unable to access enough nutritious foods. Food insecurity is associated with poor mental health, including ED symptoms. ED symptoms are associated with low self-compassion, the practice of being kind to oneself. Although strong independent relations exist between both self-compassion and EDs and food insecurity and EDs, it is not yet known if there is an interactive effect whereby low self-compassion combined with food insecurity is associated with worse ED symptoms. We hypothesized that low self-compassion and food insecurity would be independently associated with ED symptoms (binge eating, cognitive restraint, dietary restriction, purging, and excessive exercise) and that the presence of food insecurity would strengthen the relation between low self-compassion and ED symptoms. Cross-sectional data were collected from n = 481 college student participants [mean (SD) age=19.05 (1.14); 72.3% Female, 67.9% White; 7.5% Hispanic/Latino]. Participants completed the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) subscales: Binge Eating, Cognitive Restraint, Dietary Restriction, Purging, and Excessive Exercise to assess ED symptoms, the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form to assess self-compassion, and the 2-item Hunger Vital Sign questions to assess food insecurity over the past year. Five regression models were tested with self-compassion and food insecurity as predictors and each EPSI subscale as outcome variables. Race, ethnicity, gender, first generation college student status, and housing were included as covariates to collectively adjust for socioeconomic status. Results indicated a main effect of self-compassion with binge eating (β = -1.99, p < .001), cognitive restraint (β = -1.28, p < .001), purging β = -0.51, p < .05), and dietary restriction (β = -2.78, p < .001), such that lower self-compassion was associated with higher levels of each. There was a main effect of food insecurity with binge eating (β = 7.18, p < .05), but not cognitive restraint, purging, and dietary restriction (all ps > .05). The presence of food insecurity was associated with greater concurrent binge eating. However, the interaction was not significant; food insecurity did not moderate the association between self-compassion and binge eating. Regarding excessive exercise, there was not a significant main or interactive effect of self-compassion (β = -0.86, p = .07) or food insecurity (β = -5.48, p = .09). Findings related to self-compassion and ED symptoms are consistent with prior work. Also, in alignment with prior findings, food insecurity associated with greater binge eating. Contrary to our hypotheses, the presence of food insecurity did not strengthen the relation between self-compassion and any ED symptoms. Findings add to the accumulating literature supporting the incorporation of self-compassion interventions in ED treatment. Future research should prioritize examining relations prospectively to understand if, over time, experiencing food insecurity is associated with lower self-compassion and higher ED symptoms.