Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common psychiatric condition of which the prevalence has not been fully investigated in the non-clinical population, and in particular among men having sex with men (MSM). MSM have proven to be more inclined to develop body dissatisfaction and body image disorders compared to non-MSM. Our study investigates the prevalence of BDD and the prevalence and co-occurrence of muscle dysmorphia (MD) and penile dysmorphic disorder (PDD) in a sample of 261 Italian MSM recruited online. From our data, gathered through self-report measures, the prevalence of BDD, MD, and PDD in our populations was 5.4%, 8.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. Compared to their elders, younger adults (ages 18-34) appear to be at higher risk of BDD and especially of MD. Non-significant differences have been observed for the prevalence of PDD depending on the age range. Our study shows that the risk of body image disorders among MSM is quite common, especially among young adults, and higher than what is found among heterosexual men.
Keywords: Muscle dysmorphia; body dysmorphic disorder; male body image; men having sex with men; penile dysmorphic disorder; prevalence.