PERSONALITY TYPING AND BODY DISSATISFACTION IN KOREAN YOUNG ADULTS
Authors: Han *Solee , Chee Hyun-Seung 
Published: February 2025

Background

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is classified as one of the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, with a prevalence of about 2%. Most individuals have a subclinical level of BDD, where they experience distress related to their appearance or body shape, known as 'body dissatisfaction'. While several studies have explored the relationship between body dissatisfaction and personality traits, research specifically in Korea is limited.

Aims & Objectives

This study aims to investigate the difference of body dissatisfaction according to personality traits. We hypothesized that personality traits, whether it is presumed to be socially positive or negative, have an important role in body dissatisfaction.

Method

A total of 345 adults participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction was assessed using BDDE- SR. Personality traits were identified using HEXACO-PI-R and paranoid (PAR), borderline (BOR), and antisocial (ANT) subscales from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Additionally, Way of Coping Checklist (WCCL) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were used to assess the coping mechanisms and the anger expression, respectively. K-means clustering was performed to uncover closely related groups based on personality traits. One-way ANOVA was used to assess whether clusters showed significant difference in BDDE-SR scores.

Results

The study comprised 128 males and 217 females with a mean age of 24.47 years and a mean BMI of 22.33 kg/m². Linear regression showed that age (p=0.086) and BMI (p=0.056) were not statistically related to BDDE-SR scores, whereas females exhibited higher scores (p=0.043). Three distinct clusters emerged based on personality factors. One-way ANOVA results showed significant differences in conscientiousness, paranoia, affective instability, identity problems, negative relationships, wishful thinking for coping, trait anger, anger out, and anger in across the three clusters. In Cluster 1, individuals tended to be less extraverted, conscientious, and open, with lower scores in coping skills and anger control. Cluster 2 exhibited high scores in honesty, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, indicating socially positive personality traits. While they had low scores in hypervigilance, paranoia, resentment, emotion control, and identity problems, reflecting socially aversive personality traits. Cluster 3 demonstrated high scores in emotionality, openness, state and trait anger, and anger expression, with a tendency to cope in a passive manner. Additionally, scores in socially aversive traits were high in this cluster. One-way ANOVA showed that the BDDE-SR score was significantly lower in Cluster 2 (Cluster 1 and 2: p&lt;0.001, Cluster 2 and 3: p&lt;0.001) as compared to Cluster 1 and 3 (p=0.229).

Discussion & Conclusion

Cluster 2, characterized by a ‘sanguine’ personality, was identified to not to be dissatisfied with their body image, as compared to Cluster 1, representing ‘phlegmatic and melancholic’ personality, and Cluster 3, representing ‘choleric’ personality. This result indicates that individuals who are extraverted, receptive and emotionally and interpersonally stable tend to appreciate their own body image. Many individuals with the same BDDE-SR score were classified as different clusters, which may indicate possible subpopulations that progress and respond to management in different ways.