Association Between Body Image Dissatisfaction and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a Sample of Brazilian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Body image (BI) dissatisfaction has been associated with psychological distress and common mental disorders. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of BI dissatisfaction within a community-based sample and examine its association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with 255 adults aged 20–59 years recruited through non-probabilistic snowball sampling. BI dissatisfaction was assessed using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the DASS-21. Associations were examined using binary logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic covariates. In the study sample, the prevalence of BI dissatisfaction was (87.1%), predominantly related to perceived excess weight (75.1%), especially among women (81.0%). Dissatisfaction related to thinness was less frequent (12.0%) and more common among men (20.9%). After adjustment, dissatisfaction related to perceived excess weight was associated with higher odds of anxiety (OR = 4.54; 95% CI 1.63–10.70) and depression (OR = 4.24; 95% CI 1.60–10.24). No statistically significant association was observed with stress. BI dissatisfaction, particularly dissatisfaction related to perceived excess weight, was associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in this adult sample. These findings contribute to understanding the relationship between BI dissatisfaction and emotional symptoms in adults, within the context of a cross-sectional, non-probabilistic design.