Date of Conferral
10-14-2026
Date of Award
October 2026
Degree
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
School
Social Work
Advisor
Tiffany Wells
Abstract
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by the persistent preoccupation with perceived or actual flaws in one’s physical appearance and is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed among Black women. Grounded in social learning theory, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the diagnostic process executed by licensed clinical social workers when assessing Black women expressing symptoms of BDD. Five licensed clinical social workers with experience diagnosing and treating mental health disorders participated in in-depth semistructured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged: (a) diagnosis of BDD requires longitudinal clinical assessment, (b) behavioral and cognitive indicators guide diagnostic decision making, (c) cultural context is acknowledged but not integrated into diagnosis, (d) BDD is conceptualized as internal psychological distress, (e) sociocultural influences are increasing clinical exposure to BDD, and (f) limited diagnostic experience impacts clinical confidence. The findings suggest that clinical experience, cultural awareness, professional development, observation, and supervision influence diagnostic confidence and diagnostic alignment. The implications for positive change include the potential for clinical social workers, behavioral health organizations, policymakers, and educators to improve culturally responsive assessment practices, reduce diagnostic disparities, and strengthen diagnostic accuracy experienced by Black women presenting with symptoms associated with BDD.
Recommended Citation
McLaughlin, Deilia M., "Clinical Social Workers’ Process of Diagnosing Black Women With Body Dysmorphic Disorder" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20874.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20874
