Body dysmorphic disorder and depression among male undergraduate students in a Malaysian University

Waye Hann Kang; Min Yee Loo; Xue Min Leong; Yi Fan Ooi; Wen Qi Teo; Teng Jun Neoh; Wei Chih Ling

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.977238

Body dysmorphic disorder and depression among male undergraduate students in a Malaysian University

Front Psychiatry. 2022 Sep 27:13:977238. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.977238. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Waye Hann Kang¹, Min Yee Loo², Xue Min Leong², Yi Fan Ooi², Wen Qi Teo², Teng Jun Neoh², Wei Chih Ling²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Malaysia.
² Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Malaysia.

Abstract

Introduction: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and depression have been reported to be both prevalent among young people worldwide, resulting in serious implications in their quality of life and social functioning. This is worrying especially in men where mental disorders are often overlooked and under-researched. This study aims to determine the proportion of male university students with symptoms suggestive of body dysmorphic disorder and depression, as well as their perception on their body image.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1,308 male students between the aged of 17-26 years in a private university in Malaysia via self-administered online questionnaire comprising the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BQQD) and the Body Self-Image Questionnaire (BSIQ), in addition to their sociodemographic parameters. Data analyses were performed with Mann Whitney test, chi square test and Fisher's exact test.

Results: 3.3 and 54.2% of the students had symptoms suggestive of BDD and depression respectively, with up to 9.02% of the students reporting having moderate to severe depression. There was a significant association between BDD symptoms and students staying alone, whilst depression was significantly associated with studying in the rural campus. Furthermore, a significant association was demonstrated between presence of BDD and depression symptoms. Most of the students were dissatisfied with their whole body, especially their height.

Conclusion: The proportion of BDD and depression symptoms among male students in our university is quite high. Universities and the public health sector should develop better support service targeting male university students.

Keywords: Malaysian students; body dysmorphia; depression; height dissatisfaction; obsessive-compulsive disorder.