ADOLESCENT BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER IN THE MODERN SOCIAL LANDSCAPE: A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE

Julia Paczyna; Maria Jędryka; Oliwia Wróblewska; Jakub Majewski; Małgorzata Witaszczyk; Zofia Hałabuda; Alicja Benecka; Iwona Kawka-Bryk

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6402

Authors

Julia Paczyna Regional Specialized Hospital No. 4, Bytom, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5485-7167
Maria Jędryka Public Health Care Institution in Oława, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9052-8914
Oliwia Wróblewska University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8848-3832
Jakub Majewski Hospital Murcki Limited Liability Company, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3368-3817
Małgorzata Witaszczyk University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0197-5480
Zofia Hałabuda The Floriana Ceynowy Specialist Hospital in Wejherowo, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0976-5602
Alicja Benecka Prof. S. T. Dąbrowski Hospital in Puszczykowo S.A., Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5110-8028
Iwona Kawka-Bryk Medical University of Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9083-4449

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6402

Keywords:

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Adolescents, Dysmorphophobia, Social Media, Digital Body Image, Cyberbullying

Abstract

Background and Aim: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition that is increasingly affecting adolescents, largely exacerbated by the modern digital and social landscape. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature regarding the psychosocial risk factors, severe consequences, and diagnostic screening tools associated with adolescent BDD.

Methodology: A narrative review of the current literature was conducted. The analysis synthesized recent studies, clinical guidelines, and theoretical papers focusing on the intersection of adolescent BDD, digital environments, peer dynamics, psychiatric risks, and diagnostic practices.

Results: The reviewed literature indicates that social media exposure, peer dynamics, and bullying (including cyberbullying) serve as primary risk factors that trigger and intensify BDD symptoms in youth. The analysis also highlights severe psychosocial threats, demonstrating a concerning correlation between untreated adolescent BDD, self-injurious behaviors, and suicidality. Furthermore, the review identifies and evaluates the most effective, evidence-based screening scales currently recommended for early detection of the disorder.

Conclusion: The modern social landscape significantly amplifies the risk and severity of BDD among adolescents. Due to the high risk of severe, life-threatening outcomes, there is an urgent need for heightened clinical awareness and the routine implementation of standardized screening protocols by healthcare professionals and educators to ensure early identification and intervention.

References

Krebs, G., Clark, B. R., Ford, T. J., & Stringaris, A. (2025). Epidemiology of body dysmorphic disorder and appearance preoccupation in youth: Prevalence, comorbidity and psychosocial impairment. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 64(1), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2024.01.017

Rautio, D., Jassi, A., Krebs, G., Andrén, P., Monzani, B., Gumpert, M., Lewis, A., Peile, L., Sevilla-Cermeño, L., Jansson-Fröjmark, M., Lundgren, T., Hillborg, M., Silverberg-Morse, M., Clark, B., Fernández de la Cruz, L., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2022). Clinical characteristics of 172 children and adolescents with body dysmorphic disorder. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 31(1), 133–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01677-3

Saab, A., Jamaleddine, Y., Ismail, O., Abou Abbas, L., Daoud, R., & Nasser, Z. (2023). Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) among the Lebanese University students: Associated risk factors and repercussion on mental health. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 64(4), E481–E487. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.4.3050

Abudasser, A. M., Al-Garni, A. M., Alamri, H. S., Asiri, W. A., Zarbah, A. A., Alshahrani, A. S., Badawi, F. A., Alqahtani, G. A., Asiri, O. A. S., Almoghamer, H. D., Alghaeb, A. N. S., Alamri, B. M. A., & Asiri, K. M. H. (2026). Prevalence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder and its association with social media use among high school students in Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Medicine, 105(9), e47815. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000047815

Rajabi, S., Kamran, L., & Joukar KamalAbadi, M. (2022). Epidemiology of body dysmorphic disorder among adolescents: A study of their cognitive functions. Brain and Behavior, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1710

Krebs, G., Rautio, D., Fernández de la Cruz, L., Hartmann, A. S., Jassi, A., Martin, A., Stringaris, A., & Mataix‐Cols, D. (2024). Practitioner review: Assessment and treatment of body dysmorphic disorder in young people. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(8), 1119–1131. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13984

Lavell, C. H., Oar, E. L., & Rapee, R. M. (2025). Adolescent body dysmorphic disorder: Insight, executive function, and rates of ADHD and autistic traits. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 191, 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.09.074

Shooroki, M. K., Choobforoushzadeh, A., & Ardakan, A. M. (2025). The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between childhood trauma and the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 841. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03204-y

Lavell, C. H., Oar, E. L., & Rapee, R. M. (2025). Peer relationships and social media use in adolescents with body dysmorphic disorder. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 53(1), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-024-01245-2

Lavell, C. H., Oar, E. L., & Rapee, R. M. (2026). Body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents: Family history, parental distress, rearing, and accommodation. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 55(3), 487–501. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2025.2476189

Monzani, B., Luxton, R., Jassi, A., & Krebs, G. (2024). Adverse childhood experiences among adolescents with body dysmorphic disorder: Frequency and clinical correlates. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.3028

Khajuria, A., Gandotra, A., Khajuria, A., Arora, K., Gupta, R. K., Gupta, U., & Babber, S. (2025). Role of social media in the rising body dissatisfaction and dysmorphia among adolescents. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78314

McGuire, F. H., Goldbach, J. T., Senese, J. G., Cabrera, J. R., Schrager, S. M., & Duncan, A. E. (2023). Longitudinal association of homonegative school climate with body dysmorphic disorder among cisgender sexual minority adolescents: Testing mediation through proximal minority stressors. Body Image, 45, 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.02.007

Gupta, M., Jassi, A., & Krebs, G. (2023). The association between social media use and body dysmorphic symptoms in young people. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1231801

Zafar, Z., Khan, M. K., Hayat, U., Idrees, S., Khan, Z. K., & Chaudhary, S. (2025). Impact of social media and body dysmorphic disorder. Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), 14(2), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00585

el Hayek, S., Obeid, S., Kazan, R., Hallit, S., Fekih-Romdhane, F., & Haddad, G. (2025). Mediating effect of depression between problematic social media use and body dysmorphic concerns in adolescents. Discover Mental Health, 5(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00176-8

Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., Rodgers, R. F., & Nagata, J. M. (2024). Use of photo filters is associated with muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among adolescents and young adults. Body Image, 50, 101750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101750

Hogea, L., Bernad, B., Marinca, A., Corsaro, L., Costea, I., Ivanovic, N., & Anghel, T. (2026). Psychological disorder and patient satisfaction in aesthetic surgery—A systematic review. Medicina, 62(2), 389. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62020389

Pandey, R. P., Kumar, P., Singh, V., Sharma, T., Kumar, D., Singh, S. K., Kumar, A., Awasthi, P., Nitu, F., & Bumra, K. (2025). Social media engagement and self-esteem as predictors of adjustment domains among adolescents with body dysmorphic symptoms. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.95261

Krebs, G., Fernández de la Cruz, L., Rijsdijk, F. V., Rautio, D., Enander, J., Rück, C., Lichtenstein, P., Lundström, S., Larsson, H., Eley, T. C., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2022). The association between body dysmorphic symptoms and suicidality among adolescents and young adults: A genetically informative study. Psychological Medicine, 52(7), 1268–1276. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720002998

Monzani, B., Fallah, D., Rautio, D., Gumpert, M., Jassi, A., Fernández de la Cruz, L., Mataix-Cols, D., & Krebs, G. (2023). Psychometric evaluation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder for adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A). Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 54(6), 1799–1806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01376-x

Gumpert, M., Rautio, D., Monzani, B., Jassi, A., Krebs, G., Fernández de la Cruz, L., Mataix-Cols, D., & Jansson-Fröjmark, M. (2024). Psychometric evaluation of the Appearance Anxiety Inventory in adolescents with body dysmorphic disorder. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 53(3), 254–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2023.2299837