RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY DISSATISFACTION AND INCLINATION TOWARDS COSMETIC PROCEDURES: AGING ANXIETY AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE COMPARISON AS MEDIATORS

Abstract

The current study intends to examine the relationship between body dissatisfaction and inclination towards cosmetic procedures, while discovering the potential mediating role of aging anxiety and physical appearance comparison. As per previous literature and researcher’s observation, people are excessively opting for cosmetic procedures and there are certain psychological factors behind this increasing interest. A Cross-sectional survey research design was employed for the study. The convenient sample of 380 individuals was collected from aesthetic clinics in Manshera, Abbottabad, and Islamabad. Standardized instruments were used for collecting data including Body dissatisfaction scale (Tariq & Ijaz, 2015), Acceptance of cosmetic surgery scale (Henderson & Henderson, 2005), Anxiety about Aging scale (Lasher & Faulkender, 1993) and Physical Appearance Comparison scale (Thompson & Schaefer, 2019). After the collection procedure, data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (27 version) through bivariate correlation, 3 step hierarchical regression, t-test and parallel mediation analysis by process macro (model 4) by Hayes (2013). The results revealed positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and inclination towards cosmetic procedures. Moreover, physical appearance comparison emerged as a mediator in relationship between body dissatisfaction and cosmetic procedures whereas aging anxiety did not significantly mediate the relationship. Hierarchical regression reported age, education level as a significant negative predictor while income and employment status emerged as positive predictor that significantly predicted cosmetic procedures. Further, t-test reported that men and women considering cosmetic procedures in the same manner. The study offer insight for mental health professionals and aestheticians to understand the psychological factors contributing towards cosmetic procedures interest and promoting positive body image to reduce appearance based concerns.