Haj Hussain Kholod, Al Midani Abdul Rahman, Abdallah Mohamad, Alyassi Aisha, Alzubaidy Haya, Alrashed Shahad, Muhammad Jibran Sualeh, Alhaj Hamid A
College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 18;16:1613623. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1613623. eCollection 2025.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by an excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance, often resulting in significant emotional distress and impaired functioning. Although social influences are believed to contribute to the development of BDD, their specific impact remains underexplored, especially among males in the Middle East. This study aims to investigate the relationship between BDD symptoms and social factors, with a particular emphasis on the role of social media among adult males in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among men using a self-administered 30-item questionnaire. The instrument covered demographics, the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ), body image and cosmetic surgery attitudes, social media use, and exercise behaviors. The questionnaire was translated using a forward-backward translation technique and reviewed for clarity and cultural appropriateness in accordance with WHO guidelines. Bivariate analyses were conducted to explore associations between variables. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for categorical variables, and t-tests for continuous variables, with statistical significance set at < 0.05.
Of the 403 participants, 53 (13.2%) met the BDDQ cutoff criteria, and 15 (3.7%) screened positive for BDD (excluding weight-related concerns). A significant association was found between BDD screening positivity and perceived negative impact of social media (χ²(2) = 19.92, <.001). Similarly, perceived cultural pressure to attain an ideal appearance was significantly associated with higher BDDQ positivity. Participants who screened positive for BDD were significantly more likely to report physical discomfort (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: [1.5, 15.8], = 0.005), concern about others' perceptions of their bodies (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: [1.2, 12.3], = 0.017), and interest in cosmetic surgery (OR = 5.8, 95% CI: [2.0, 16.4], = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that perceived negative social media impact, specific cosmetic concerns, and lower BMI were independent predictors of BDD.
This study highlights the significant role of social media, cultural appearance pressures, and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery in the manifestation of BDD symptoms among males in the UAE. Culturally sensitive public health initiatives should focus on promoting healthy body image and increasing awareness of BDD.
躯体变形障碍（BDD）是一种精神疾病，其特征是过度关注自身外貌中被察觉到的缺陷，常常导致严重的情绪困扰和功能受损。尽管社会影响被认为对BDD的发展有作用，但其具体影响仍未得到充分探索，尤其是在中东地区的男性中。本研究旨在调查BDD症状与社会因素之间的关系，特别强调社交媒体在阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）成年男性中的作用。
采用一份30项的自填式问卷对男性进行横断面调查。该问卷涵盖人口统计学信息、躯体变形障碍问卷（BDDQ）、身体形象和整容手术态度、社交媒体使用情况以及锻炼行为。问卷采用前后翻译技术进行翻译，并根据世界卫生组织的指南对清晰度和文化适宜性进行了审核。进行双变量分析以探索变量之间的关联。分类变量采用卡方检验和费舍尔精确检验，连续变量采用t检验，统计学显著性设定为<0.05。
在403名参与者中，53人（13.2%）符合BDDQ的临界标准，15人（3.7%）BDD筛查呈阳性（不包括与体重相关的担忧）。BDD筛查阳性与社交媒体的感知负面影响之间存在显著关联（χ²(2)=19.92，<0.001）。同样，获得理想外貌的感知文化压力与较高的BDDQ阳性率显著相关。BDD筛查呈阳性的参与者更有可能报告身体不适（OR = 4.9，95%CI：[1.5，15.8]，P = 0.005）、担心他人对自己身体的看法（OR = 3.9，95%CI：[1.2，12.3]，P = 0.017）以及对整容手术的兴趣（OR = 5.8，95%CI：[2.0，16.4]，P = 0.002）。多变量分析表明，社交媒体的感知负面影响、特定的整容担忧以及较低的体重指数是BDD的独立预测因素。
本研究强调了社交媒体、文化外貌压力以及对整容手术的态度在阿联酋男性BDD症状表现中的重要作用。具有文化敏感性的公共卫生举措应侧重于促进健康的身体形象并提高对BDD的认识。
