Abstract
This study aimed to examine the association between positive (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) and negative (isolation, self-judgment, and over-identification) components of self-compassion, and both body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgery among women, through the mediation (for the negative components) of internalization and physical appearance comparison. The participants were 220 young Italian women aged 19–31 (M = 21) years, who completed a questionnaire assessing the variables of interest. Path analysis indicated that higher mindfulness was directly linked to lower acceptance of cosmetic surgery. Mindfulness presented the strongest link with cosmetic surgery, as it was directly associated with acceptance of cosmetic surgery for both social and interpersonal motivations and with consideration of undergoing some cosmetic procedures. Common humanity and self-kindness were related to acceptance of cosmetic surgery for social reasons. Over-identification seemed to be associated with body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgery both directly and indirectly through internalization and physical appearance comparison. Self-judgment and isolation did not present a significant association with either body dissatisfaction or acceptance of cosmetic surgery. These findings confirm that psychological assessment of women who are interested in cosmetic surgery is highly recommended. Interventions should not consider self-compassion as a whole, but they should rather focus on some of its components. The role of over-identification seems to be especially pivotal, as higher scores on this dimension are linked to higher levels of body dissatisfaction and greater acceptance of cosmetic surgery.
Highlights
Cosmetic surgery is an optional, or medically unnecessary, procedure (Diaz, 2012) requested by a patient to correct imperfections and improve appearance (Barone et al, 2016)
We examined the fit of three models, in which the self-compassion dimensions were posited as predictors of the three ACSS subscales respectively (Model 1: Intrapersonal; Model 2: Social; Model 3, Consider); the role of internalization, physical appearance comparison, and body dissatisfaction was considered in each model
None of the positive components were significantly related to body dissatisfaction, whereas mindfulness was significantly related to acceptance of cosmetic surgery in each model
Summary
Cosmetic surgery is an optional, or medically unnecessary, procedure (Diaz, 2012) requested by a patient to correct imperfections and improve appearance (Barone et al, 2016). Ranks sixth in the list of countries with the largest number of women who underwent cosmetic surgical procedures in 2016 (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2017). Such an interest in cosmetic practices can derive from the emphasis that the Italian society places on physical appearance (Dakanalis et al, 2015; Barcaccia et al, 2018). A study conducted by Mondini et al (1996) revealed that cosmetic surgery was already present in the Italian mass media two decades ago It was typically presented as an effective manipulation strategy that might help women to achieve common aesthetic standards that are difficult to be reached with natural methods
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