Study of the relationship between social anxiety of negative evaluation and negative body image with the tendency of cosmetic surgery in women

The increasing focus on physical appearance is the primary motivator for women's desire to undergo cosmetic surgery. This study aimed to examine the associations between fear of negative social evaluation, negative body image, and the inclination towards cosmetic surgery among women.

In this descriptive-correlational study, the statistical population included all girls and women referring to cosmetic surgery clinics in Karaj in 2022. Moreover, a sample of 200 participants was conveniently selected based on the Green sample size formula. The research tools were the standardized questionnaires of Henderson-King Tendency to Cosmetic Surgery, Littleton et al.’s Negative Body Image, and Leary’s Fear of Negative Evaluation. After collecting the data, analysis was performed in two sections of descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software.

The findings showed that the standardized coefficients (β) of negative body image (43.3%) and fear of negative social evaluation (23.8%) can predict the tendency for surgery among women candidates for rhinoplasty (β = 0.434, p < 0.01; β = 0.382, p < 0.01).

The results of this study showed that by conducting a psychological assessment of cosmetic surgery volunteers before any action, identifying psychological factors before surgery, and providing psychotherapy, can help individuals become aware of their distorted perception of reality in order to take action to resolve it.