Bridging Body Image Disturbance and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms: A Symptom Network Study Among University...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health

Background:

• Body image disturbance (BID) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are prevalent among university students, potentially affecting their functioning.
• Understanding the symptom-level connections between BID and BDD is crucial, especially in non-Western populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the central and bridge symptoms connecting BID and BDD symptoms using network analysis.
• To examine these connections in a sample of Bangladeshi university students.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 1401 Bangladeshi university students.
• Utilized the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Screener for DSM-5 (BDDS-5).
• Employed Gaussian graphical models and network analysis to examine symptom centrality and connectivity, including stability and gender differences.

Main Results:

• Distinct yet interconnected symptom communities for BIDQ and BDDS-5 were identified.
• Key central symptoms included appearance comparison, academic/professional impact, and negative appearance-related emotions.
• The strongest bridge symptoms connecting BID and BDD were academic/professional impact, specific appearance concern, and social interference.
• While global network strength did not differ by gender, the network structure did, with distinct bridge symptoms identified for males and females.

Conclusions:

• Academic/professional impairment, specific appearance concerns, and social interference are critical links between BID and BDD symptoms.
• Findings support the development of targeted, gender-sensitive interventions for university students.
• This study extends body image network research to a significant Bangladeshi student sample.