Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

People’s interest in cosmetic surgery has increased in recent years. Drawing from objectification theory, in the present study, we examined the associations of body talk on social networking sites (SNS), body surveillance, and body shame with cosmetic surgery consideration. In particular, we examined the mediating roles of body surveillance and body shame in the relationship between SNS body talk and cosmetic surgery consideration. We also examined potential gender differences in the serial mediation model. Male and female college students in China (N = 309) completed questionnaires regarding SNS body talk, body surveillance, body shame, and cosmetic surgery consideration. Results showed that SNS body talk, body surveillance, and body shame were positively associated with cosmetic surgery consideration. Body surveillance and body shame mediated the association between SNS body talk and cosmetic surgery consideration both separately and sequentially. Gender did not moderate any of the relations in the serial mediation model. Findings of this study provide new insight into the relationship between SNS use and cosmetic surgery and highlight facets of objectification as potential targets for prevention and intervention regarding appearance concerns. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843211026273

Keywords

social networking sites body talk body surveillance body shame cosmetic surgery

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abbas

O. L.

Karadavut

(2017). Analysis of the factors affecting men’s attitudes toward cosmetic surgery: Body image, media exposure, social network use, masculine gender role stress and religious attitudes. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 41(6), 1454–1462. doi:10.1007/s00266-017-0882-3

Ah-Line

(2019). How China redefines men beauty standards. Created in China. Retrieved May 23, 2020, from http://www.created-in-china.com.cn/2019/01/30/how-china-redefines-men-beautystandards/

Alleva

J. M.

Martijn

Van Breukelen

G. J. P.

Jansen

Karos

(2015). Expand Your Horizon: A programme that improves body image and reduces self-objectification by training women to focus on body functionality. Body Image, 15, 81–89. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.07.001

Ang

(2019). China’s ‘Facebook of cosmetic surgery’ faces an uncertain future. China Economic Review. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://chinaeconomicreview.com/chinas-facebook-of-cosmetic-surgery-faces-an-uncertain-future/.

Arroyo

Brunner

S. R.

(2016). Negative body talk as an outcome of friends’ fitness posts on social networking sites: Body surveillance and social comparison as potential moderators. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 44(3), 216–235. doi:10.1080/00909882.2016.1192293

(2010). Objectification theory predicts college women’s attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Sex Roles, 63(1-2), 32–41. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9759-5

(2014). Cutting words. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 38(2), 197–207. doi:10.1177/0361684313506881

(2009). Potential implications of the objectification of women's bodies for women’s sexual satisfaction. Body Image, 6(2), 145–148. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.01.001

(2010). Measurement invariance and the role of body consciousness in depressive symptoms. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 405–417. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01585.x

10.

Chen

(2018). The real power behind China’s new trend of ‘sissy men’ ... is the empowered modern woman. South China Morning Post. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2163748/real-power-behind-chinas-new-trend-sissy-men-empowered-modern

11.

Ching

B. H.-H.

J. T.

(2019). Understanding cosmetic surgery consideration in Chinese adolescent girls: Contributions of materialism and sexual objectification. Body Image, 28, 6–15. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.11.001

(2010). Self-objectification, self-esteem, and gender: Testing a moderated mediation model. Sex Roles, 63(9-10), 645–656. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9829-8

13.

CNNIC (2020 September 29). The 46th China statistical report on Internet development. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from http://www.cnnic.net.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/202009/P020200929546215182514.pdf

14.

Daniel

Bridges

S. K.

(2010). The drive for muscularity in men: Media influences and objectification theory. Body Image, 7(1), 32–38. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.08.003

(2014). The development and validation of the male assessment of self-objectification (MASO). Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(1), 78–89. doi:10.1037/a0031518

(2014). The effect of social network site use on appearance investment and desire for cosmetic surgery among adolescent boys and girls. Sex Roles, 71(9-10), 283–295. doi:10.1007/s11199-014-0412-6

17.

DeGennaro

(2018 August 23). Chinese plastic surgery trends you need to know about (2019). Dragon Socials. Retrieved August 14, 2019, from https://www.dragonsocial.net/blog/chinese-plastic-surgery-trends-you-need-to-know-about/

18.

Ellison

N. B.

Steinfield

Lampe

(2007). The benefits of facebook “friends:” social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143–1168. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x

(1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 173–206. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x

20.

Gentleman Marketing Agency . (2018 April 2). Booming plastic surgery market in China. Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.marketingtochina.com/booming-plastic-surgery-market-china/

21.

Grabe

Hyde

J. S.

Lindberg

S. M.

(2007). Body objectification and depression in adolescents: The role of gender, shame, and rumination. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31(2), 164–175. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2007.00350.x

(2008). Motivating factors for seeking cosmetic surgery. Plastic Surgical Nursing, 28(4), 177–182. doi:10.1097/PSN.0b013e31818ea832

23.

Hayes

A. F.

(2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Press.

24.

Henderson-King

(2005). Acceptance of cosmetic surgery: Scale development and validation. Body Image, 2(2), 137–149. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.03.003

(2004). A review of psychosocial outcomes for patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 113(4), 1229–1237. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000110214.88868.CA

26.

iiMedia Research . (2020 March 20). 2019-2020 China mobile social industry annual research report. Retrieved July 08, 2020, from https://www.iimedia.cn/c400/70165.html

27.

Inkwood Research . (2020a). Asia Pacific cometic surgery and procedure market forecast 2020-2028. Retrieved August 18, 2019, from https://www.inkwoodresearch.com/reports/asia-pacific-cosmetic-surgery-and-procedure-market/

28.

Inkwood Research . (2020b). Global cosmetic surgery and procedure market forecast 2020-2028. Retrieved August 18, 2019, from https://www.inkwoodresearch.com/reports/cosmetic-surgery-and-procedure-market/

29.

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery . (2018 January 23). Worldwide cosmetic surgery trends to watch for in 2018!. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from https://www.isaps.org/blog/worldwide-cosmetic-surgery-trends-watch-2018/

30.

Jackson

Cai

Chen

(2020). Asian versus Western appearance media influences and changes in body image concerns of young Chinese women: A 12-month prospective study. Body Image, 33, 214–221. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.03.008

31.

Jackson

Chen

(2015a). Features of objectified body consciousness and sociocultural perspectives as risk factors for disordered eating among late-adolescent women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(4), 741–752. doi:10.1037/cou0000096

32.

Jackson

Chen

(2015b). Predictors of cosmetic surgery consideration among young Chinese women and men. Sex Roles, 73(5-6), 214–230. doi:10.1007/s11199-015-0514-9

(2016). Features of objectified body consciousness and sociocultural perspectives as predictors of eating and body image disturbances among young women and men in China. Journal of Gender Studies, 25(5), 599–612. doi:10.1080/09589236.2015.1073144

(2004). Body image and the appearance culture among adolescent girls and boys. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(3), 323–339. doi:10.1177/0743558403258847

(2016). Interest in cosmetic surgery among Iranian women: The role of self-esteem, narcissism, and self-perceived attractiveness. European Journal of Plastic Surgery, 39(5), 359–364. doi:10.1007/s00238-016-1185-7

36.

(2017 August 31). Students borrowing money for cosmetic surgery. China Daily. Retrieved May 16, 2020, from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-08/31/content_31354354.htm

37.

Manago

A. M.

Ward

L. M.

Lemm

K. M.

Reed

Seabrook

(2015). Facebook involvement, objectified body consciousness, body shame, and sexual assertiveness in college women and men. Sex Roles, 72(1-2), 1–14. doi:10.1007/s11199-014-0441-1

(2010). A correlational and experimental examination of reality television viewing and interest in cosmetic surgery. Body Image, 7(2), 165–171. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.10.006

(2018). Why are men interested in cosmetic surgery procedures? Examining the role of different forms of peer influence, social comparison, internalization, and body dissatisfaction. Body Image, 26, 74–77. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.06.003

(1996). The objectified body consciousness scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20(2), 181–215. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1996.tb00467.x

(2011). Internalization of appearance ideals and cosmetic surgery attitudes: A test of the tripartite influence model of body image. Sex Roles, 65(7-8), 469–477. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9983-7

(2008). Self-objectification and well-being: The impact of self-objectification on women’s overall sense of self-worth and life satisfaction. Sex Roles, 58(7-8), 458–466. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9357-3

43.

Miller

(2020). Deracialisation or body fashion? Cosmetic surgery and body modification in Japan. Asian Studies Review, 45(2), 217–237. doi:10.1080/10357823.2020.1764491

44.

Mills

Fuller-Tyszkiewicz

(2017). Fat talk and body image disturbance. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 41(1), 114–129. doi:10.1177/0361684316675317

(2005). Roles of sexual objectification experiences and internalization of standards of beauty in eating disorder symptomatology: A test and extension of objectification theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(3), 420–428. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.3.420

(2008). Objectification theory and psychology of women: A decade of advances and future directions. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32(4), 377–398. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00452.x

(2014). Psychosocial predictors in consideration of cosmetic surgery among women. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 38(2), 461–466. doi:10.1007/s00266-014-0294-6

(1998). A mediational model linking self-objectification, body shame, and disordered eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22(4), 623–636. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1998.tb00181.x

(2018). When is teenage plastic surgery versus cosmetic surgery okay? Reality versus hype. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 142(3), 293e–302e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000004630

50.

Sarwer

D. B.

(2019). Body image, cosmetic surgery, and minimally invasive treatments. Body Image, 31, 302–308. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.01.009

(2020). Appearance-related social networking sites and body image in young women: Testing an objectification-social comparison model. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 44(3), 377–392. doi:10.1177/0361684320920826

(2021). Social networking sites and men’s drive for muscularity: Testing a revised objectification model. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 22(1), 189–200. doi:10.1037/men0000265

(2014). The role of media and peer influences in Australian women’s attitudes towards cosmetic surgery. Body Image, 11(4), 482–487. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.07.009

54.

Slater

Tiggemann

(2015). Media exposure, extracurricular activities, and appearance-related comments as predictors of female adolescents’ self-objectification. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 39(3), 375–389. doi:10.1177/0361684314554606

55.

Smith

(2018 July 3). Men & makeup: The changing face of Chinese beauty. Daily. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://jingdaily.com/men-make-up/

56.

Statista (2019a). Average expenditure on a single medical aesthetic treatment in China in 2018 by gender (in yuan). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/971178/china-average-expenditure-single-medical-aesthetic-treatment-by-gender/

57.

Statista (2019b). Total global cosmetic surgery and procedures market in 2016 and a forecast for 2026. Retrieved March 02, 2020, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/939420/cosmetic-surgery-and-procedures-market-worldwide/

58.

Sun

(2018). Materialism, self-objectification, and capitalization of sexual attractiveness increase young Chinese women’s willingness to consider cosmetic surgery. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1–7. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02002

(2011). Sexual objectification of women: Advances to theory and research. The Counseling Psychologist, 39(1), 6–38. doi:10.1177/0011000010378402

(2004). The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43(3), 299–311. doi:10.1348/0144665031752925 .

61.

Tiggemann

Slater

(2001). A test of objectification theory in former dancers and non-dancers. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 25(1), 57–64. doi:10.1111/1471-6402.00007

62.

TranslateMedia . (2018 February 28). The Changing face of China’s male beauty market. Retrived July 14, 2020, from https://www.translatemedia.com/us/blog-usa/changing-face-chinas-male-beauty-market/

63.

Vandenbosch

Eggermont

(2012). Understanding sexual objectification: A comprehensive approach toward media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance. Journal of Communication, 62(5), 869–887. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01667.x

64.

Vaughan-Turnbull

Lewis

(2015). Body image, objectification, and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 20(4), 179–196. doi:10.1111/jabr.12035

(2019). Effects of social media use on desire for cosmetic surgery among young women. Current Psychology. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1007/s12144-019-00282-1

(2015). Facebook use and disordered eating in college-aged women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(2), 157–163. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.026

(2019). Selfie-viewing and facial dissatisfaction among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model of general attractiveness internalization and body appreciation. Body Image, 30, 35–43. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.05.001

(2019). Body talk on social networking sites, body surveillance, and body shame among young adults: The roles of self-compassion and gender. Sex Roles, 82(11-12), 731–742. doi:10.1007/s11199-019-01084-2

(2020). Body talk on social networking sites and body dissatisfaction among young women: A moderated mediation model of peer appearance pressure and self-compassion. Current Psychology. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1007/s12144-020-00704-5

70.

Wen

(2009). “Being good-looking is capital”: Cosmetic surgery in China today. Asian Anthropology, 8(1), 89–107. doi:10.1080/1683478X.2009.10552588

(2017). Does gender matter? Testing the influence of presumed media influence on young people’s attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Sex Roles, 76(7-8), 436–447. doi:10.1007/s11199-016-0680-4

72.

Yue

(2017 August 9). About face: China’s plastic surgery market grows six times faster than global average. China Money Network. https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2017/08/09/about-face-chinas-plastic-surgery-market-grows-six-times-faster-than-global-average

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

2.59 MB

0.00 MB

Body Talk on Social Networking Sites and Cosmetic Surgery Consideration Among Chinese Young Adults: A Serial Mediation Model Based on Objectification Theory

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References

Supplementary Material