Exploring Snapchat Dysmorphia, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms, and Body Trust in Patients Seeking Aesthetic...

Snapchat dysmorphia (SD) is an emerging phenomenon that characterizes individuals seeking aesthetic procedures to replicate the appearance of their digitally altered selfies. This phenomenon has been hypothesized to be linked to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms. Additionally, body trust (ie, perceiving the body as safe and trustworthy, relying on its signals and sensations), which could contrast excessive focus on physical appearance, may moderate this relationship. Current literature on SD reveals a notable lack of comprehensive empirical investigations.

In this study, the authors examine the factorial structure and internal consistency of a newly developed measure: the SD Questionnaire (SDQ). Additionally, it explored the relationship between SD and BDD symptoms, with a focus on the potential moderating role of body trust.

Data were collected from a sample of 163 women seeking aesthetic medicine treatments. The factorial structure and internal consistency of the SDQ were examined. Its association with BDD symptoms was explored within a hierarchical regression model, after controlling for other variables (eg, motivations to pursue cosmetic procedures). Finally, the potential moderating role of body trust was tested.

Findings supported a unidimensional factor structure for the SDQ, which also demonstrated a significant association with BDD symptoms. Body trust did not moderate this relationship.

Findings provide preliminary support for the validity of the SDQ in women seeking aesthetic medicine procedures and lend empirical weight to anecdotal claims that SD is distinct yet related to BDD. Finally, although body trust was negatively associated with BDD symptoms, it did not show a moderation effect.