: The Effect of Social Desirable Behavior Induction on Physical and Mental Health: The Role of Self-Compassion and Mindfulness

Research shows a controversy concerning the relationship between social desirability and physical and mental health. The aim of the present study was to examine how social desirability as a personality trait is associated with physical and mental health and how it has been misused.
The research design included two studies. In the first study, a sample of 220 students (95 males and 125 female) from the University of Tehran completed the Social Desirability (Balard, 1992), Self-Compassion (Raes et al, 2011), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (Brown & Ryan, 2003), Subjective Vitality (Ryan & frederick, 1997), General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg et al, 1997), and Symptom Checklist (Bartone, 1995). In the second study, the persons with high and low self-compassion were exposed to socially desirable and common situation, then their physical symptoms were evaluated.
The correlation and regression analysis showed that social desirability had a positive relationship with self-compassion and mindfulness, but if it not associate with self-compassion and mindfulness, it might not predict physical and mental health. The comparison of groups also showed that high self-compassionate persons compared to low self-compassionate persons had some less negative symptoms during experience of socially desirable behaviour.
A socially desirable behaviour might be compatible when it has been associated with self-regulation processes including mindfulness and self-compassion.