Correlates of interest in cosmetic surgery among Italian young women

In recent years the number of people undergoing cosmetic procedures has severely increased, with Italy taking the sixth plastic surgery spot in the world (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, 2011). Given these trends, researchers have begun to examine correlates of attitudes towards aesthetic surgery among women. The present research aimed to examine the contribution of sociocultural influences and body dissatisfaction on attitudes towards cosmetic surgery among Italian women. Specifically, with regard to sociocultural influences, media pressures, internalization, and peer attributions about the importance of appearance with respect to popularity were investigated. Participants were 203 young women living in Tuscany (mean age = 26.70, SD = 3.63). They completed a questionnaire assessing peer attributions, media pressures, internalization of thin ideals, body dissatisfaction, and consideration of cosmetic surgery. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that peer attributions and internalization were significantly related to interest in cosmetic surgery, while pressures and body dissatisfaction were not. Specifically, internalization was found to mediate the relation between peer attributions and consideration of cosmetic procedures. The current findings have relevant preventive and treatment implications. Interventions should address the degree to which women internalize sociocultural messages and believe that appearance increases popularity among peers.