Acceptance of Cosmetic Enhancement and Association Between Self-Esteem, Well-Being and Cosmetic Procedures among Women

Abstract: Cosmetic procedures have been increasing in popularity over the past decade. Women make up the majority of consumers in this lucrative industry. In this study, acceptance of cosmetic enhancement, self-esteem and psychological well-being (PWB) were investigated in a sample of women. The sample was composed of 237 participants with 31.2% having undergone a cosmetic procedure. Having had a cosmetic procedure compared to not (β=2.6), having higher self- esteem (β=1.3) and older age (β=0.1) were significantly associated with better PWB. Being married compared to single (β=-2.7) and having higher acceptance of cosmetic procedures (β=-0.2) were significantly associated with worse PWB. Self-esteem mediated the association between acceptance of cosmetic procedures and psychological well-being (27.9%). These results help understand the association between cosmetic procedures and psychological variables, and clarify clinical implications overlapping aesthetic medicine and psychology.