Network analysis reveals key connections between body image and dysmorphic symptoms in university students, suggesting targeted interventions.
Key Points
This study aims to explore the symptom-level relationships between body image disturbance (BID) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms among university students.
Conducted a cross-sectional survey with 1401 university students in Bangladesh.
Utilized the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Screener for DSM-5.
Employed network analysis methods including Gaussian graphical model and bootstrapping for stability assessment.
Central symptoms identified include comparing appearance with others and the academic/professional impact.
Highest bridge symptoms were academic/professional impact (0.757) and concern about specific appearance features (0.577).
Network structure differed significantly between genders (M = 0.230, p = 0.041), with different bridge symptoms identified for males and females.