Social media use tied to esteem, cosmetic surgery acceptance

(HealthDay)—Users of some social media platforms and photo editing have lower self-esteem and increased acceptance of cosmetic surgery, according to a study published online June 27 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Jonlin Chen, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted an online survey of 252 participants (73 percent female; mean age, 24.7 years) to assess whether self-esteem and the use of social media and photo-editing applications are associated with cosmetic surgery attitudes.

The researchers found lower self-esteem scores on the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale among participants who reported using YouTube, WhatsApp, VSCO, and Photoshop. There were no significant differences in self-esteem scores for participants who reported using other social media and photo-editing applications. There was a positive association between social media investment and consideration of cosmetic surgery, with a higher overall score on the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale seen in users of Tinder, Snapchat, and/or Snapchat photo filters. For users of VSCO and Instagram photo filters, there was an increased consideration of cosmetic surgery but not overall acceptance of surgery compared with nonusers.

Source: Read Full Article