Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Its Association with Body Features and social anxiety among Female University Students

Abstract

Abstract Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by significant distress or impaired thoughts. It is a common mental health disorder; however, it remains underdiagnosed in clinical settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of BDD and social anxiety among female students, which is important because both conditions may adversely affect academic performance. This cross-sectional study on female students was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between January and February 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed in electronic format on university electronic platforms (blackboard). Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire comprising three parts: 1) sociodemographic data, 2) BDD Symptomology Questionnaire, and 3) Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). In this study, among 437 female students, most were concerned about their body parts/flaws (80.5%, n = 352). The body features of major concern included skin (32.3%, n = 141), obesity (23.6%, n = 103), teeth (21.5%, n = 94), and hair (21.3%, n = 93). In addition, our results showed a significant association between SIAS and all reported symptoms of BDD (p < 0.001). Notably, a significantly higher number of those with social anxiety extremely/very often experienced symptoms of BDD than those without social anxiety.