Impact of Body Dysmorphia, Social Media on Mental Health and Academic Achievement Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background: People who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) focus too much on their perceived imperfections in physical appearance that may or may not actually exist in reality. Social media's representation of perfect bodies creates dissatisfaction and a subsequent negative impact upon psychological well-being, which could have implications for one's academic performance as well. Medical Students represent an interesting cohort because they are under extreme academic stress, are continually subjected to push for excellent performance, and will be continually exposed to ideals of perfection.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of body dysmorphia symptoms and its association with social media, mental health and academic performance.
Methodology: In 2024, a cross-sectional study examining a population of 288 medical students took place in Karachi. The focus was to measure relationships between key areas of concern: dysmorphic body image, intense use of Facebook, depression, anxiety and stress, as well as academic performance using various scales. The study analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test to provide valuable insights into these relationships.
Results: There was a total of 288 individuals who were eligible to be included in this study, with an average age of 22 - 23 years. In this group of individuals, 50.3% were found to be BDD positive, with females being found to have a higher prevalence (89.6%) than males and those in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) discipline had the highest proportion of individuals with BBD (59.4%). 74.4% exhibited mild dysmorphic concerns, 66% had low Facebook use and did not exhibit signs of depression (79.5%), anxiety (69.4%) or stress (91.3%). 42.7% received good academic performance scores. A marginal and not statistically significant association between BDD and social media intensity was found (k=0.103; p=0.052), while moderate correlations were noted between BDD and depression (r=0.258; p<0.05) and BDD and anxiety (r=0.163; p<0.05)
Conclusion: The research highlights the association between how bodies are depicted in online media and medical students' mental well-being and academic achievement. Continuous exposure to 'perfect' body images creates anxiety and distorts self-image perception. Medical schools should provide coping mechanisms for students by focusing on providing support for mental health issues, digital literacy, and supporting open conversation about body image.
Keywords: Academic Performance, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Mental Health, Medical Students, Social Media
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