Structural Relationship between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs: Mediating Role of Body Image and Mindfulness

Background: In body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), individuals become greatly distressed or disturbed due to flaws they believe exist in their physical appearance, regardless of the trivial nature or non-existence of these perceived imperfections. Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the structural relationship between body dysmorphic disorder and satisfaction of basic psychological needs with the mediating role of body image and mindfulness. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study is part of structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of this study included all students of Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Quds branch, in the 2022-2023 academic year. A sample of 377 subjects was selected via the convenience sampling method. Online surveys were used to collect the necessary data from all university students in Shahr-e-Quds. The data collection tools were the Basic Psychological Needs Questionnaire (BPNQ), the Body Dysmorphia Metacognition Questionnaire, the Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), and the Five Mindfulness Questionnaire aspect (FFMQ). Statistical procedures were performed in SPSS (version 22) and AMOS (version 22) software packages. Results: The findings indicated a moderate negative correlation coefficient between mindfulness and body dysmorphic disorder (r = -0.381; P 0.01). The effect of basic psychological needs for body image on body dysmorphic disorder needs through mindfulness for body dysmorphic disorder was significant (P 0.05; β = 0.219). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the practice of mindfulness and a decreased focus on body image, along with respect for body and appearance, can help students avoid symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.