Hospital Practices and Research

Self-Esteem as a Mediator: Exploring the Link between Social Media Addiction, Psychopathology, and Intentions to Seek Cosmetic Consultations in Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Azizollah Reshadi Mohammadi 1
Fariba Hafezi 1
Farzaneh Hooman 2

1 Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30491/hpr.2025.495480.1462
Abstract
Background: The influence of social media on mental health and body image necessitates investigating its relationship with the pursuit of cosmetic surgery, particularly in women.
Objectives: The present study investigated the associations between social media addiction, psychopathology, and intentions to seek cosmetic surgery in women, examining the mediating role of self-esteem in these relationships.
Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. Two hundred women were recruited via convenience sampling. Participants were included if they expressed intentions to seek cosmetic procedures. Data were collected using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Cosmetic Surgery Tendencies Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-22 and AMOS-22.
Results: This study found significant positive correlations between social media addiction and both cosmetic surgery tendencies and psychopathology in women, and a significant negative correlation between self-esteem and cosmetic surgery tendencies (P<0.001). Self-esteem significantly mediated the relationships between both social media addiction and psychopathology with cosmetic surgery tendencies (P<0.001). The model demonstrated a good fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.060, IFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.96, and GFI = 0.96).
Conclusion: This study found significant correlations between social media addiction, psychopathology, and intentions to seek cosmetic surgery in women, with self-esteem playing a crucial mediating role. These findings underscore the importance of integrating self-esteem enhancement into interventions designed to address body image concerns and mitigate the influence of social media and psychological distress on intentions regarding cosmetic procedures.

Keywords

Self-esteem
Internet Addiction Disorder
Psychopathology
Cosmetic Surgery
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