Body Image Questionnaire

Do you find yourself spending a lot of time worrying about your appearance, to the point where it may be affecting your daily life and causing distress?

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | July 5, 2023

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that causes people to judge their own physical appearance unfairly. People who suffer from the condition may engage in repetitive and compulsive behaviors, including seeking cosmetic surgery, in an attempt to alleviate their anxiety about their appearance.

The Cosmetic Procedure Screening Scale, or COPS, is a widely used self-report questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of BDD in cosmetic settings. In non-cosmetic settings, the scale is called the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ).

The test consists of 9 items that cover various aspects related to appearance concerns and behaviors. These items are scored on a Likert scale, where respondents rate the frequency or severity of their experiences or thoughts. The total score on the COPS can help determine the likelihood of an individual having BDD.

You can take this test here. Please follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: Rate the following questions on a scale of 1 (Never) to 5 (All The Time).

1. How often do you deliberately look at yourself in a mirror to check your appearance?

2. How often do you feel your features are ugly, unattractive, or 'not right'?

3. How often do your features cause you distress?

4. How often do your features lead you to avoid situations or activities?

5. How often do your features preoccupy you? That is, you think about them a lot and it is hard to stop thinking about them?

6. If you have a partner, how often do your features have an effect on your relationship with them (e.g., affectionate feelings, number of arguments, enjoying activities together, etc.)? If you do not have a partner, How often do your features have an effect on dating or developing a relationship?

7. How often do your features interfere with your ability to work or study, or your role as a homemaker? (Please rate this even if you are not working or studying; we are interested in your ability to work or study.)

8. How often do your features interfere with your social life?

9. How often do you feel like your appearance is the most important aspect of who you are?

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Adapted from Veale, D., Ellison, N., Werner, T., Dodhia, R., Serfaty, M., & Clarke, A. (2012). Development of a cosmetic procedure screening questionnaire (COPS) for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 65(4), 530-532.