The Relationship Between Defensive Styles with a Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Female Students in Guilan, Northern Iran

Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) have a constant preoccupation about some aspects of their appearance. Most people, including those with Body Dysmorphic Disorder cope with appearance -related thoughts and behaviors in a variety of defensive style use. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and defensive style. This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 259 students of Guilan University. Body Dysmorphic Metacognitive Questionnaire (BDMQ) and the defensive style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) were used for data collection. To examine the relationship between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and defensive style, we used Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. The correlation between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and developed defensive styles (p<0/05, r= -0/14) and non developed defensive styles (p<0/01, r= 0/27) was significant. Identification of patterns of poor defense styles related to BDD, can clarify the role of psychological factors in the emergence of BDD, and be helpful for specific interventions aimed at modifying and moderating the defensive styles.