4:00 PM Psychology and Cognitive Science Poster Session 2-A

Thursday, July 28 2:45PM – 3:45PM

Location: Illumination

Dylan Rodriguez
Rider University
Body Dysmorphia in Male and Female Exercisers with a Positive Screen for an Eating-Disorder
The perception of one’s physique weaves together a tapestry of sociocultural, psychological, and genetic factors which interact with social messaging to suggest that one’s appearance and general health can always be improved. In the present study, the interactive effects of the sex of participants and the potential for an eating disorder on measures of body dysmorphia were examined using multivariate analyses of responses from 297 women and 300 men predominately representing four ethnicities (Caucasian, Hispanic/Latin American, African-American, and Asian). Participants completed demographic items, the SCOFF eating disorder screen, the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ), the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI), and the Body Uneasiness Test-A (BUT-A), all measures with robust psychometric properties. Scores on the SCOFF identified participants as not needing (Negative; 75.5%) or needing (Positive; 24.5%) additional screening for a potential eating disorder, with significantly more women (n = 96, 16%) and fewer men (n = 56, 9.4%) receiving a positive. In ten of 13 comparisons women and those with positive screens expressed significantly greater concern that one’s body was perceived as being too large while in the remaining three comparisons men reported the desire to be larger and more muscular. The present results demonstrate robust differences between men and women in the expression of dysmorphia concerns and that the SCOFF, a simple five-item screen, is an effective tool for identifying individuals who might benefit from screening for both body dysmorphia and/or unhealthy eating patterns and behaviors.