Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

8-2018

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph. D.

Department

Psychological and Brain Sciences

Degree Program

Clinical Psychology, PhD

Committee Chair

Salmon, Paul

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Woodruff-Borden, Janet

Committee Member

Woodruff-Borden, Janet

Committee Member

Mast, Benjamin

Committee Member

Stetson, Barbara

Committee Member

Nancy Theriot

Author's Keywords

cross-validation; body compassion scale; perimenopause; women

Abstract

This study is a cross-validation of the Body Compassion Scale (BCS) to confirm its factor structure and to assess concurrent validity in women in perimenopause. Body compassion is a construct developed by the author referring to the level of compassion with which an individual relates to her body. It is based in contemporary mindfulnessand acceptance-based conceptual models. The body is central to the experience of women in perimenopause. Moreover, this important transition has been largely medicalized— with little attention given to experiential aspects of this natural phase of life. A total of 281 women in perimenopause completed online questionnaires assessing their experience of key symptoms/characteristics of perimenopause, body image, and mindfulness- and acceptance-based characteristics, including body compassion. Confirmatory factor analysis of the previously identified three factor solution was performed using structural equation modeling. Overall, results showed good fit to the data. The present study provides support for continued use and application of the BCS as a reliable and valid measure of body compassion. Body compassion may provide an assessment that more accurately captures and addresses the experience of relating to one’s body than is currently available. Body compassion in women in perimenopause is described and recommendations for future research directions are provided.

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