**Objective:** Adolescence is a critical developmental period for the formation of body image attitudes, during which various individual and social factors may influence body image concerns. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and body image concerns among adolescents, while examining the mediating role of self-compassion and the moderating role of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance.
**Methods:** This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population consisted of adolescents, and participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire, and the Body Image Concern Inventory. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).
**Results:** The findings indicated that adverse childhood experiences were positively and significantly associated with body image concerns (β = 0.33, *p* < .001). Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance also emerged as a significant positive predictor of body image concerns (β = 0.36, *p* < .001). The mediating role of self-compassion was not supported, as the relevant indirect pathways were not statistically significant. In contrast, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance significantly moderated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and body image concerns (β = 0.09, *p* = .04), although the effect size was small. The final model explained 35% of the variance in body image concerns.
**Conclusion:** The findings suggest that adverse childhood experiences and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance are significantly associated with body image concerns among adolescents. However, no evidence was found to support the mediating role of self-compassion. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, the fi