Mindful Eating And Self-Compassion As Correlates Of Mental Well-Being Among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Medical students face high levels of psychological distress and identifying modifiable protective factors is essential. This cross-sectional study examined relationships among mindful eating, self-compassion, and mental well-being in first-year medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college in Chennai, India, from March 2025 to June 2025, involving 72 first-year MBBS students using a simple random sampling method. Participants, after giving their informed consent, completed the Mindful Eating Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. The correlation between mental well-being and other variables was assessed using the Pearson correlation test. Multiple regression analysis was performed to predict mental well-being based on the measured variables.

Results: The mean scores for mindful eating behavior, self-compassion, and mental well-being were 2.67 ± 0.26, 2.82 ± 0.53, and 43.18 ± 9.23, respectively. Mindful eating behavior (r = 0.24, p = 0.04) and self-compassion (r = 0.45, p <0.001) showed a significant moderate positive correlation with mental well-being. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed self-compassion as a significant positive predictor of mental well-being (β=7.68, p<0.001) in this population, while mindful eating did not (β=3.39, p=0.37).

Conclusions: Self-compassion shows a robust association with mental well-being in first-year medical students and independently predicts higher well-being, whereas mindful eating correlates with well-being but did not retain independent predictive value. These findings highlight the significance of fostering mindful eating practices and developing self-compassion as viable approaches to improving mental well-being.