The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Defense Mechanisms in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Anxiety Sensitivity in Cosmetic Surgery Applicants Students

The psychological variables are one of the important factors in people's tendency to cosmetic surgery. The current research has aimed at investigating the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulationstrategiesand defense mechanisms in the relationship between perfectionism and anxiety sensitivity in cosmetic surgery applicants students.

This study was a correlational study. The statistical populationincluded all undergraduate students of Payame Noor University of Rasht in the academic year 1397-98 who were seeking cosmetic surgery. The sample consisted of 335 people (308 female and 27 male) who were selected by available sampling method. Instruments used in this study included the positive and negative perfectionism scale (PNPS), anxiety sensitivity index (ASI), cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ) and defense style questionnaire (DSQ).

Path analysis method showed that the anxiety sensitivity in cosmetic surgery applicants is influenced by perfectionism, cognitive emotion regulation and defense mechanisms. Also, cognitive emotion regulation and defense mechanisms played a mediating role in the relationship between perfectionism and anxiety sensitivity. To evaluate the model, CFI (0.91), NFI (0.93), GFI (0.94) and RMSEA (0.07) indices were used and the results indicated that the proposed model fits well with the data.

In the formation of anxiety sensitivity, psychological factors such as perfectionism, cognitive emotion regulation, and defense mechanisms are involved. Therefore, the findings of this study have important implications for the rooting of psychological problems in these individuals.