Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in College- Going Students: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect. It is an underrecognized part yet relatively common and is considered a severe mental disorder that occurs globally. BDD is more common than is realized and causes significant distress and occupational impairment. Hence, it is important to understand the magnitude of occupational impairment in college students with BDD. Before identifying the occupational impairment in college-going students, we need to understand the prevalence of BDD amongst them.

Aim: To measure the prevalence of BDD in undergraduate Medical and Allied Health college-going students.

Settings and Design: Cross-sectional quantitative study design was used to conduct the study. Medical and Allied Health Students of Goa Medical College, Goa.

Methods and Material: A convenient sampling method was used. A self-report, body image questionnaire was used, which has a sensitivity of 95.1% and a specificity of 71.6%.

Statistical Analysis used: Data obtained and entered in a Google Excel sheet and analyzed in IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results: Out of the 378 students surveyed, 72.5% were female. Among the student population, 6.9% were found to have BDD. The male-to-female ratio among those with BDD was 1:5. Additionally, it was observed that approximately 61.5% of students who were under 21 years of age were likely to have BDD. Furthermore, it was noted that 45.8% of the total students surveyed experienced slight distress due to their physical features, while approximately 47.1% of students reported that they always avoided certain situations or activities because their features caused them distress. Additionally, 44.4% of the total student population expressed being slightly preoccupied with their physical features and thinking about them frequently. Moreover, approximately 25.1% of the overall student population stated that their features slightly affected their ability to work or study, indicating interference with their academic or professional pursuits.

Conclusion: The data suggests that a significant portion of the surveyed population, particularly females, are susceptible to BDD. The disorder appears to affect a substantial percentage of students, with a higher prevalence among those under 21 years of age. Additionally, a considerable number of students report experiencing distress, avoidance behaviors, preoccupation with their physical features, and interference with their work or study due to these concerns. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health and body image issues among students and may warrant further investigation and support for those affected by BDD.