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

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-۹۰ (SCL-۹۰), the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Cosmetic Surgery Tendencies Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-۲۲ and AMOS-۲۲. 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<۰.۰۰۱). Self-esteem significantly mediated the relationships between both social media addiction and psychopathology with cosmetic surgery tendencies (P<۰.۰۰۱). The model demonstrated a good fit to the data (RMSEA = ۰.۰۶۰, IFI = ۰.۹۷, CFI = ۰.۹۶, and GFI = ۰.۹۶). 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.

کلیدواژه ها:

Self-esteem ، Internet Addiction Disorder ، psychopathology ، cosmetic surgery