Childhood Sexual Abuse and Neglect as Predictors of Body Dysmorphic Symptoms among Gay Men

Authors

  • Ismawati Ismawati Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology University of Muria Kudus, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9776-6265
  • Rr Dwi Astuti Muria Kudus University, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.8314872026

Keywords:

Body dysmorphic, child neglect, childhood trauma, gay men

Abstract

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is increasingly recognized as a significant mental health condition associated with body image dissatisfaction and psychological distress. However, empirical research examining the impact of adverse childhood experiences, particularly among sexual minority populations, remains limited. This study aimed to examine whether childhood sexual abuse and child neglect predict body dysmorphic symptoms among gay men. It was hypothesized that both forms of childhood trauma would significantly contribute to body dysmorphic symptoms. This study employed a quantitative correlational design involving 202 participants recruited through purposive sampling. Standardized psychological instruments were used to assess body dysmorphic symptoms, childhood sexual abuse, and child neglect. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that childhood sexual abuse was positively correlated with body dysmorphic symptoms (r = 0.185, p < 0.01), while child neglect showed a stronger correlation (r = 0.379, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that both variables significantly predicted body dysmorphic symptoms (R = 0.460, p < 0.01), accounting for 21.2% of the variance. These findings emphasize the psychological impact of early adverse experiences on body image disturbances and highlight the importance of trauma-informed mental health interventions for sexual minority populations.

Author Biographies

Ismawati Ismawati, Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology University of Muria Kudus

Dwi Ismawati, a student in the Faculty of Psychology at Muria Kudus University. The researcher is interested in phenomena related to LGBT issues within the context of clinical psychology. During the research was carried out under the mentorship and guidance of the supervising lecturer,

Rr Dwi Astuti, Muria Kudus University

Rr. Dwi Astuti, M.Psi, Psychologist. She is a clinical psychologist and researcher. She actively conducts research on sexual violence, LGBT issues, post-traumatic growth, and other topics in clinical psychology

References

Alomari, A. A., & Makhdoom, Y. M. (2019). Magnitude and determinants of body dysmorphic disorder among female students in Saudi public secondary schools. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 14(5), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2019.08.006

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Azwar, S. (2018). Metode penelitian psikologi (Edisi ke-2). Pustaka Pelajar.

Barnhart, W. R., Sun, H., Lin, Z., Lu, C., Han, X., & He, J. (2022). Integrating the tripartite influence, minority stress, and social comparison theories to explain body image and disordered eating in Chinese sexual minority men and women. Body Image, 43, 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.08.012

Batterton, K. A., & Hale, K. N. (2017). The likert scale what it is and how to use it. Phalanx, 50(2), 32–39. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26296382

Bernstein, D. P., Stein, J. A., Newcomb, M. D., Walker, E., Pogge, D., Ahluvalia, T., Stokes, J., Handelsman, L., Medrano, M., & Desmond, D. (2003). Development and validation of a brief screening version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27(2), 169–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(02)00541-0

Blashill, A. J., Tomassilli, J., Biello, K., O’Cleirigh, C., Safren, S. A., & Mayer, K. H. (2016). Body dissatisfaction among sexual minority men: Psychological and sexual health outcomes. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(5), 1241–1247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0683-1

Bödicker, C., Reinckens, J., Höfler, M., & Hoyer, J. (2022). Is Childhood Maltreatment Associated with Body Image Disturbances in Adulthood? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 15(3), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00379-5

Bonanno G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events?. The American psychologist, 59(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20

Bougie, R., & Sekaran, U. (2025). Research Methods for Business, with eBook Access Code: A Skill Building Approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Brennan, S. N., Rossell, S. L., Rehm, I., Thomas, N., & Castle, D. J. (2023). A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of body dysmorphic disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1214803. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1214803

Brewster, M. E., Sandil, R., DeBlaere, C., Breslow, A., & Eklund, A. (2017). “Do you even lift, bro?” Objectification, minority stress, and body image concerns for sexual minority men. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 18(2), 87. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000043

Convertino, A. D., Brady, J. P., Albright, C. A., Gonzales, M., & Blashill, A. J. (2021). The role of sexual minority stress and community involvement on disordered eating, dysmorphic concerns and appearance- and performance-enhancing drug misuse. Body Image, 36, 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.10.006

Didie, E. R., Loerke, E. H., Howes, S. E., & Phillips, K. A. (2012). Severity of interpersonal problems in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 26(3), 345–356. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2012.26.3.345

Didie, E. R., Tortolani, C. C., Pope, C. G., Menard, W., Fay, C., & Phillips, K. A. (2006). Childhood abuse and neglect in body dysmorphic disorder. Child Abuse and Neglect, 30(10), 1105–1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.03.007

Dubowitz, H., Black, M., Starr Jr, R. H., & Zuravin, S. (1993). A conceptual definition of child neglect. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 20(1), 8–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854893020001003

Fabris, M. A., Longobardi, C., Badenes-Ribera, L., & Settanni, M. (2022). Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Different Types of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Among Men Having Sex with Men. Journal of Homosexuality, 69(1), 132–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2020.1813512

Field, A. (2024). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. SAGE Publications.

Forester, B. J., Khater, A. I. A., Afgani, M. W., & Isnaini, M. (2024). Penelitian kuantitatif: Uji reliabilitas. Edu Society: Jurnal Pendidikan, Ilmu Sosial, Dan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 4(3), 1812–1820. https://doi.org/10.56832/edu.v4i3.577

Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2023). Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance. Current Opinion in Psychology, 51, 101579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101579

Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (2019). Evaluating effect size in psychological research: Sense and nonsense. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 2(2), 156–168. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245919847202

Ghozali, I. (2021). Aplikasi analisis multivariate edisi 10. Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.

Harrington, D., Zuravin, S., Depanfilis, D., Ting, L., & Dubowitz, H. (2002). The neglect scale: Confirmatory factor analyses in a low-income sample. Child Maltreatment, 7(4), 359–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/107755902237266

Hayes, S., Lonergan, A., Trompeter, N., Bussey, K., Hay, P., & Mitchison, D. (2022). Longitudinal relationship between experience of sexual harassment and 2-year body image and weight outcomes in adolescence: mediation through self-objectification and psychological distress. Eating and Weight Disorders, 27(8), 3095–3108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-022-01432-4

Hejjeh, R. S., Hamaideh, S. H., Harazneh, L., Rayani, A. M., & Hamdan-Mansour, A. M.. (2026). Status and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms among school-aged female adolescents in Jordan. BMC Psychology, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04271-5

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence--from domestic abuse to political terror. Hachette UK.

Jackson, A. L., Frederico, M., Cleak, H., & Perry, B. D. (2022). Childhood neglect and its implications for physical health, neurobiology and development—a scoping review of the literature. Developmental Child Welfare, 4(2), 114–135. https://doi.org/10.1177/25161032221088042

Joshi, A., Kale, S., Chandel, S., & Pal, D. K. (2015). Likert scale: Explored and explained. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 7(4), 396–403. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975

Kelley, K., & Maxwell, S. E. (2003). Sample size for multiple regression: obtaining regression coefficients that are accurate, not simply significant. Psychological Methods, 8(3), 305. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.8.3.305

Kimmel, S. B., & Mahalik, J. R. (2005). Body image concerns of gay men: the roles of minority stress and conformity to masculine norms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(6), 1185. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.6.1185

Malcolm, A., Pikoos, T. D., Grace, S. A., Castle, D. J., & Rossell, S. L. (2021). Childhood maltreatment and trauma is common and severe in body dysmorphic disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 109, 152256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152256

Malik, F., Ahmed, J., Nasim, S., Ali, A., & Khan, A. R. (2021). Body Dysmorphic Disorder: a Comprehensive Review. Turkish Medical Student Journal, 8(1), 2–7. https://doi.org/10.4274/tmsj.galenos.2021.08.01.02

May, T., Younan, R., & Pilkington, P. D. (2022). Adolescent maladaptive schemas and childhood abuse and neglect: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 29(4), 1159–1171. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2712

McArdle, K. A., & Hill, M. S. (2009). Understanding body dissatisfaction in gay and heterosexual men: The roles of self-esteem, media, and peer influence. Men and Masculinities, 11(5), 511–532. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X07303728

McElvaney, R., Lateef, R., Collin-Vézina, D., Alaggia, R., & Simpson, M. (2022). Bringing shame out of the shadows: Identifying shame in child sexual abuse disclosure processes and implications for psychotherapy. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(19–20), NP18738–NP18760. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211037435

Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2010). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. Guilford Publications.

Neziroglu, F., Khemlani-Patel, S., & Veale, D. (2008). Social learning theory and cognitive behavioral models of body dysmorphic disorder. Body Image, 5(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2008.01.002

Nowicki, G. P., Marchwinski, B. R., O’Flynn, J. L., Griffths, S., & Rodgers, R. F. (2022). Body image and associated factors among sexual minority men: A systematic review. Body Image, 43, 154–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.08.006

Oliveira, M. F., Coimbra, M., & Ferreira, C. (2024). How does the experience of shame impact body dysmorphic symptomatology? Exploring the role of mindfulness and body image-related cognitive fusion. Current Psychology, 43(15), 13454–13464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05385-4

Oshana, A., Klimek, P., & Blashill, A. J. (2020). Minority stress and body dysmorphic disorder symptoms among sexual minority adolescents and adult men. Body Image, 34, 167–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.06.001

Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. Routledge.

Parmenas, M., & Partasari, W. D. (2025). Gambaran body image, minority stress, dan gay community stress laki-laki homoseksual di Jakarta. MANASA, 14(2), 45–55. https://doi.org/10.25170/manasa.v14i2.7238

Phillips, K. A. (2009). Understanding body dysmorphic disorder. Oxford University Press.

Santoniccolo, F., Trombetta, T., Paradiso, M. N., & Rollè, L. (2025). The Relationship Between Minority Stress and Body Image—A Systematic Review of the Literature. Sexuality Research and Social Policy,. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01156-x

Schmidt, M., Taube, C. O., Heinrich, T., Vocks, S., & Hartmann, A. S. (2022). Body image disturbance and associated eating disorder and body dysmorphic disorder pathology in gay and heterosexual men: A systematic analyses of cognitive, affective, behavioral und perceptual aspects. PLOS ONE, 17(12), e0278558., 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278558

Silva, R. C., Oliva, F., Barlati, S., Perusi, G., Meattini, M., Dashi, E., Colombi, N., Vaona, A., Carletto, S., & Minelli, A. (2024). Childhood neglect, the neglected trauma. A systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence in psychiatric disorders. Psychiatry Research, 335, 115881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115881

Simon, E., Raats, M., & Erens, B. (2024). Neglecting the impact of childhood neglect: A scoping review of the relation between child neglect and emotion regulation in adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 153, 106802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106802

Soulliard, Z. A., Lattanner, M. R., & Pachankis, J. E. (2024). Pressure from within: Gay-community stress and body dissatisfaction among sexual-minority men. Clinical Psychological Science, 12(4), 607–624. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026231186789

Sugiyono. (2022). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Tiggemann, M., Martins, Y., & Kirkbride, A. (2007). Oh to be lean and muscular: Body image ideals in gay and heterosexual men. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 8(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.8.1.15

Veale, D. (2004). Body dysmorphic disorder. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 80(940), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj.2003.015289

Young, J. E. (1999). Cognitive therapy for personality disorders: A schema-focused approach. Professional Resource Press/Professional Resource Exchange.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-05

How to Cite

Ismawati, I., & Astuti, R. D. (2026). Childhood Sexual Abuse and Neglect as Predictors of Body Dysmorphic Symptoms among Gay Men. Journal of Psychological Perspective, 8(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.8314872026

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Empirical Research

Citation Check

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ismawati, Rr Dwi Astuti

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Journal of Psychological Perspective (JOPP) is committed to promoting academic freedom and open access. To that end, we apply a copyright policy that empowers authors while ensuring the broad dissemination and responsible reuse of published work. More...

 

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.