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Department of Psychology, To.C., Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran. , M.zarbakhsh@iau.ac.ir
Abstract: (51 Views)
Background: With the expansion of cultural and social standards related to beauty, the tendency toward cosmetic surgery has become one of the important issues. Research evidence indicates that this tendency is not merely influenced by physical appearance, but that cognitive variables and social factors also play a role in its formation. Therefore, examining the role of social anxiety in explaining the relationship between irrational beliefs and sociocultural attitudes with the tendency toward cosmetic surgery can contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms influencing such behaviors.
Aims: The present study aimed to model the tendency toward cosmetic surgery based on irrational beliefs and sociocultural attitudes, with the mediating role of social anxiety among women referring to beauty centers.
Methods: This study was descriptive-correlational in design. The statistical population included all women referring to beauty clinics in Tehran during the first half of 2024. From this population, 350 participants were selected using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Tendency Toward Cosmetic Surgery Questionnaire (Etemadifard & Amani, 2013), the Ahvaz Irrational Beliefs Questionnaire (Ebadi & Motamedin, 2005), the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (Schaefer & et al., 2015), and the Social Anxiety Questionnaire (Wells et al., 1994). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling through SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software.
Results: The results showed that irrational beliefs had a direct and significant effect on social anxiety and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery. Moreover, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance had a direct and significant effect on social anxiety and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (p < .001). Social anxiety also had a direct and significant effect on the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (p < .002). In addition, the bootstrap results indicated that social anxiety played a significant mediating role in the relationship between irrational beliefs and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery, as well as in the relationship between sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, the tendency toward cosmetic surgery among women referring to beauty centers is simultaneously influenced by cognitive and social factors, and social anxiety plays a significant mediating role in this relationship. Therefore, in order to reduce excessive tendencies toward cosmetic surgery, it seems necessary to pay attention to the modification of irrational beliefs, the reduction of sociocultural pressures related to appearance, and interventions aimed at alleviating symptoms of social anxiety.
Aims: The present study aimed to model the tendency toward cosmetic surgery based on irrational beliefs and sociocultural attitudes, with the mediating role of social anxiety among women referring to beauty centers.
Methods: This study was descriptive-correlational in design. The statistical population included all women referring to beauty clinics in Tehran during the first half of 2024. From this population, 350 participants were selected using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Tendency Toward Cosmetic Surgery Questionnaire (Etemadifard & Amani, 2013), the Ahvaz Irrational Beliefs Questionnaire (Ebadi & Motamedin, 2005), the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (Schaefer & et al., 2015), and the Social Anxiety Questionnaire (Wells et al., 1994). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling through SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software.
Results: The results showed that irrational beliefs had a direct and significant effect on social anxiety and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery. Moreover, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance had a direct and significant effect on social anxiety and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (p < .001). Social anxiety also had a direct and significant effect on the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (p < .002). In addition, the bootstrap results indicated that social anxiety played a significant mediating role in the relationship between irrational beliefs and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery, as well as in the relationship between sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, the tendency toward cosmetic surgery among women referring to beauty centers is simultaneously influenced by cognitive and social factors, and social anxiety plays a significant mediating role in this relationship. Therefore, in order to reduce excessive tendencies toward cosmetic surgery, it seems necessary to pay attention to the modification of irrational beliefs, the reduction of sociocultural pressures related to appearance, and interventions aimed at alleviating symptoms of social anxiety.
Article number: 17
Keywords: tendency toward cosmetic surgery, irrational beliefs, sociocultural attitudes, social anxiety, women.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/5 | Accepted: 2026/10/2 | Published: 2026/10/23
Received: 2026/07/5 | Accepted: 2026/10/2 | Published: 2026/10/23
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. |
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)