Status and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms among school-aged female adolescents in Jordan

Adolescence is a developmental stage characterized by significant biological, psychological, and social changes. Evidence suggests that nearly half of all mental disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), emerge around the age of 14. However, little is known about BDD among Jordanian adolescent girls. Understanding its status and correlates in this population may inform early detection and intervention strategies. A cross-sectional, descriptive–correlational design was used. Convenience sampling recruited 402 school-aged adolescent girls aged 12–18 years from the northern, central, and southern regions of Jordan. BDD symptoms were assessed using the validated Body Dysmorphic Disorder–Symptoms Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to identify symptom prevalence and associated factors. Participants reported overall low BDD symptom levels. The highest mean severity was in the grooming domain (mean = 3.3, SD = 2.6) and the lowest in weight and shape (mean = 1.8, SD = 2.3). Symptom prevalence across domains included weight/shape (10.4%), dermatological/surgical (17.3%), avoidance (26.2%), BDD-related cognition (27.5%), skin picking/hair pulling (32.9%), checking (38.6%), and grooming (52.9%). The most frequent symptom was “changing clothes,” reported by 94.8% of participants. Significant differences in symptom severity were observed among participants with congenital problems or deformities (t = − 6.8, p < 0.001; t = − 5.9, p < 0.001) and health problems (t = -2.4, p=0.016). This study identifies measurable BDD symptoms among Jordanian adolescent girls and their associations with specific health conditions. While domain-specific effects (e.g., sleep, appetite, or academics) were not directly assessed, findings underscore the importance of early screening and school-based mental health programs to detect and manage BDD symptoms in adolescents.