Date of Graduation

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Michelle A. Sandrey

Abstract

Context: Body dysmorphic disorder is a somatoform disorder in which an individual is preoccupied with a real or imagined defect in their appearance. In the psychiatric and dermatologic populations, there is a low prevalence rate of body dysmorphic disorder. However, no studies have ever looked at a prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in the collegiate athletic setting. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if body dysmorphic disorder exists in female collegiate athletes and whether there was a difference in dysmorphic tendencies between aesthetic and non-aesthetic sports. Design: A prospective descriptive analysis of the dysmorphic tendencies of female collegiate athletes based on scores on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire. Setting: An NCAA Division-I University. Patients and Other Participants: A total of 103 female athletes from aesthetic (diving and gymnastics) and non-aesthetic (soccer, volleyball, track and field, cross country, basketball, tennis, rifle, and crew) sports completed the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire. Of those, 30 were freshman, 22 were sophomores, 27 juniors, fifteen seniors and two grad students. Interventions: A cover letter was distributed and read aloud to the participants. A 7-item questionnaire, the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire, was then distributed to the female athletes. Once the athletes completed the questionnaires, they were placed into an envelope at the front of the room. Main Outcome Measures: There were female collegiate athletes who display dysmorphic tendencies. There were differences between scores of athletes participating in aesthetic and non-aesthetic sports. Results: A total of 7.8% (n=8) scored eleven or higher on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire. Athletes who participated in aesthetic sports scored significantly higher on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (7.68±3.77 vs. 3.48±3.32) than did athletes who participated in non-aesthetic sports (t101=5.114, P< .001). With the exception of Question 3, the aesthetic group’s answers on each of the seven questions were significantly higher than those of the non-aesthetic group (P=0.006). Conclusion: Based on scores from the DCQ, there was a low prevalence rate of body dysmorphic symptoms in a sample of Division I female varsity athletes. Females participating in aesthetic sports were more likely to score significantly higher on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire than their non-aesthetic counterparts.

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