The association between comorbid body dysmorphic disorder and depression: moderation effect of age and mediation effect of body mass index and body image among Pakistani students

Abstract

Abstract Background American Psychological Association defined body dysmorphic disorder as being obsessed with observed (preoccupied) flaws in one’s appearance. The observed flaws cause ample distress and/or worsening in the quality of life, isolation, lessening in social or professional functioning, while also being linked to depression and attempt suicide. Generally, younger individuals are more displeased and anxious about defects that can be seen or unseen. The study aimed to explore the predictive role of body mass index and body image in the relationship between comorbid body dysmorphic disorder and depressive symptoms among adults. A cross-sectional study used self-report measures; for depression, body apperception, and body dysmorphic disorder scale were administered to 281 undergraduate and post-graduate adults of Hazara division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, consisting male (54.80%) and women (45.19%). Results Results indicated that body dysmorphic disorder was positively associated with body image and negatively with depression. As males are prone to stressors in Pakistani society, stressors overwhelm them more than females (Cohen’s d = .436). On body mass index categories, depression, age, and gender were substantially different in three categories. Structural equation modeling evidenced that body dysmorphic disorder indirectly predicts depression when age is used as a moderator and mediation effect of body mass index. Conclusions It is concluded that body dysmorphic disorder is prevalent at a younger age, overweight and underweight among adults. Therefore, the complexity of body dysmorphic disorder and its similarity with body image can be better understood within the specific context. The potential implication is it make easy to understand for the researchers and mental health care practitioners.