Structural Equation Modeling of the Relationship of Body Image Concern and Social Anxiety with the Tendency Toward Cosmetic Surgery among Female University Students: The Mediating Role of Engagement with Beauty-Related Social Media Content
Keywords:
Body Image Concern, Social Anxiety, Cosmetic Surgery Tendency, Beauty-Related Social Media Content, Structural Equation ModelingAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationships of body image concern and social anxiety with the tendency toward cosmetic surgery among female university students, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of engagement with beauty-related content on social media.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The study population consisted of female university students aged 18–25 years, from whom 400 participants were recruited. Data were collected using measures assessing body image concern, social anxiety, engagement with beauty-related social media content, and tendency toward cosmetic surgery. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the measurement model, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized direct and indirect relationships among the study variables. Model fit indices were also examined to determine the compatibility of the proposed conceptual model with the empirical data.
Findings: The model fit indices indicated that the proposed structural model had an acceptable fit to the collected data. Body image concern had a positive and statistically significant direct effect on the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (β = 0.241, p = 0.001). Engagement with beauty-related social media content also partially mediated the relationship between body image concern and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (indirect effect = 0.173, p = 0.005). In contrast, social anxiety did not have a statistically significant direct effect on the tendency toward cosmetic surgery (t = −0.19, p = 0.848). Furthermore, engagement with beauty-related social media content did not significantly mediate the relationship between social anxiety and the tendency toward cosmetic surgery.
Conclusion: Body image concern appears to be an important psychological predictor of female university students’ tendency toward cosmetic surgery, both directly and indirectly through greater engagement with beauty-related social media content. Exposure to and involvement with idealized beauty content may reinforce unrealistic appearance standards and intensify dissatisfaction with physical appearance, thereby increasing interest in cosmetic procedures. Preventive interventions should therefore promote critical social media literacy, realistic beauty standards, and a healthier body image among young women.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mahnaz Imani (Author); Mojtaba Amirimajd; Jaffar Pouyamanesh, Gorban Fathieagdam (Author)
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