شیوع علائم اختلال بدریخت انگاری و عوامل مرتبط با آن: مقایسه میان فرهنگی

The authors investigated the prevalence of body image concerns, body dysmorphic disorder, and related psychiatric symptoms in a group of 101 American students. Results were compared with data from a group of 133 German students. Survey data were collected on body image concerns, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and skin picking. A total of 74.3% of the American students endorsed body image concerns, and 28.7% were preoccupied by them; 4.0% appeared to meet DSM-IV criteria for body dysmorphic disorder. Body esteem was significantly correlated with self-esteem and depressive, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Body image concerns and preoccupation were significantly greater in American than in German students, although the prevalence of probable body dysmorphic disorder was not.

Physical attractiveness has been valued over time and across different cultures,1,2 with some evidence that physically attractive people are likely to benefit from physical attractiveness stereotyping.3,4 Although the perception of beauty is subjective, common culture-specific notions of physical attractiveness do exist.5 Across cultures, however, notable differences have been reported in the concept of physical attractiveness6,7 and in the importance placed on it. Americans, for example, rely more on appearance and attractiveness in their perception of human differences than do their Japanese and Chinese counterparts.8 In addition, Americans have been found to place greater value on physical attractiveness in a potential mate than do Germans.9