Racial teasing and body dysmorphic disorder symptoms – A cross-sectional study of Asian ethnic groups in Singapore

ABSTRACT

Preliminary evidence suggests that racial teasing can adversely affect the body image of ethnic minority groups. This study investigated the frequency of racial teasing across ethnic groups, related distress and skin colour dissatisfaction, and examined whether racial teasing predicts body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. A cross-sectional web-based survey was completed by 287 participants, identified as Chinese, Malay or Indian in Singapore (M_age = 23.05, SD_age = 4.63). Ethnic minority participants reported higher frequency, distress and skin colour dissatisfaction than Chinese individuals. Past distress due to skin colour teasing predicted skin colour dissatisfaction. Lastly, racial teasing predicted body dysmorphic symptoms over and above control variables. Racial teasing appears to be a significant source of appearance concerns that should not be overlooked.

KEYWORDS:

• Racial teasing
• body image
• body dysmorphic disorder symptoms
• apperance anxiety

Highlights

• Ethnic minority members reported more incidences of, and distress caused by appearance-related racial teasing than the ethnic majority, although the majority group also reported significant experiences of racial teasing

• Ethnic minority members, in particular Indian individuals reported greater skin colour dissatisfaction than the ethnic majority

• Appearance-related racial teasing predicted body dysmorphic disorder symptoms

• Racial teasing distress was most strongly correlated with body dysmorphic disorder symptoms for Malays as compared to Chinese or Indians

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

V Thivya Pillai

Thivya Pillai holds a Bachelor's Degree (Honours) in Psychology from the National University of Singapore where she had completed this study as part of her dissertation. Racial teasing has long been a cause of concern among the people around her and she sought to uncover the extent and consequences of this phenomenon. Thivya is registered as an Associate Member with the Singapore Psychological Society. She is currently working as a Case Manager who facilitates the reintegration of drug offenders back to society in Singapore.

Oliver Sündermann

Dr. Oliver Suendermann is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with a special interest and expertise in treating and researching Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Dr Suendermann gained his skills in various specialist in-, and outpatient clinics for OCD and BDD in the U.K., and prior to joining NUS he was the lead psychologist and manager of the national obsessional disorders clinic at the Priory Hospital North London. He has extensive experience in running workshops, training and supervising other professionals as well as developing specialist OCD and BDD clinics. Dr Suendermann holds a Ph.D. and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, both from the Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley, King’s College London. He is also accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies. Dr Suendermann is currently the manager at the Clinical and Health Psychology Centre, and he supervises and teaches Master level students on the NUS Clinical Psychology programme.