Body Dysmorphic Concerns Among Undergraduate Students at Baze University: Examining the Roles of Perfectionism and Social Comparison.

Abstract

This study examined the roles of perfectionism and social comparison on body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate students at Baze University, Abuja. This study set out to explore how perfectionism and social comparison influence body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate student of Baze University, Abuja. Instruments used to collect relevant data were; the Perfectionism Scale (PQ), Social Comparison Scale (SCC), and Body Dysmorphic Concerns Scale (BDCS). Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 213 undergraduates through standardized questionnaires measuring perfectionism, social comparison, and body dysmorphic concern symptoms and analyzed with the aid of simple liner regression. The result of the study revealed that perfectionism significantly and positively predicted body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate students at Baze University, Nigeria. In addition, the result of the study showed that social comparison significantly and positively predicted body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate students at Baze University, Nigeria. Furthermore, the outcome of the study revealed that perfectionism and social comparison significantly predicted body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate students at Baze University. Based on these results, the study there concluded that both perfectionism and social comparison are significant predictors of body dysmorphic concern among undergraduate students of Baze University, Abuja. The study recommends targeted campus-based interventions, such as mental health programs addressing perfectionistic beliefs, media literacy training to reduce harmful comparisons, and peer support initiatives to promote body acceptance.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18793331