Abstract

This study investigated the global-local visual features, attentional set-shifting, and the relationship between global-local visual features and attentional set-shifting in female college students with body dysmorphic symptoms. The Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ), and the Eating Attitude Test-26 (KEAT-26) determined the higher (n = 23) and lower limits of body dysmorphic symptom (n = 23) groups. Global-local visual features were evaluated using the global-local paradigms. The global-local paradigms were classified into selective and divided attention tasks according to the task instruction. Attentional set-shifting was measured using a divided paradigm. On the selective paradigm, the high-symptom group had a less accurate response to the global level than the low-symptom group. On the divided paradigm, the high-symptom group had a less accurate response to both global and local levels and repetition and switch conditions than the low-symptom group. The accuracy rate between local levels in the selective and divided paradigm did not differ in the low-symptom group. Contrastingly, the high-symptom group responded significantly less accurately to the local level in the divided paradigm than in the selective paradigm. This study indicates that female college students with high body dysmorphic symptoms have deficits in global-processing and local-bias regarding visual perception. They also have deficits in attentional set-shifting, which seem to be related to their local bias in visual perception.