title: Attitudes toward cosmetic surgery patients: the role of culture and social contact.
abstract: Cosmetic surgery is increasingly popular globally, but how cosmetic surgery patients are socially evaluated is largely unknown. The present research documents attitudes toward these patients in multiple cultures (Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States). Across these cultures, attitudes toward cosmetic surgery patients were predominantly negative: Participants ascribed more negative attributes to cosmetic surgery patients and found cosmetic surgery not acceptable. Also, participants in Hong Kong and Japan were not willing to form social relationships, particularly intimate ones, with these patients. These attitudes were less negative in the United States than in Hong Kong and Japan, partly because social contact, which reduced negativity in attitudes toward cosmetic surgery patients, was more prevalent in the United States. These findings bear important implications for the subjective well-being of cosmetic surgery patients, who very often expect improvement in their social relationships through the surgery.
authors: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Division of Social Science, Room 3383, Academic Building, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. kevintam@ust.hk
authors: Kim-Pong
authors: KP
authors: Tam
authors: Henry Kin-Shing
authors: HK
authors: Ng
authors: Young-Hoon
authors: YH
authors: Kim
authors: Victoria Wai-Lan
authors: VW
authors: Yeung
authors: Francis Yue-Lok
authors: FY
authors: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012929:Psychological Distance; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012928:Social Desirability; D012945:Social Values; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult