title: Psychosocial predictors in consideration of cosmetic surgery among women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to analyze the influence of psychosocial factors on the consideration of cosmetic surgery. The authors hypothesized that the internalization of thin ideals and social comparisons mediate the relationship between media pressure, family and peer influence (appearance conversations, perception of teasing, and peer attributions), and the desire to pursue cosmetic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants were 429 Italian women (mean age, 33 years). They completed a questionnaire containing the Appearance Conversations With Friends Scale, the Perception of Teasing Scale for Friends, the Peer Attribution Scale, the "Pressure and Internalization-General" subscales of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3, the Feedback on Physical Appearance Scale, the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale, and the "Consider" subscale of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale. Hierarchical linear regression was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that media pressure and appearance conversations with peers predicted the outcome variable through the full mediation of internalization of thin ideals. The relation between peer attributions and interest in cosmetic surgery was partially mediated by internalization of thin ideals. Although social comparison was significantly related to both sociocultural variables and consideration of cosmetic procedures, it was not a significant mediator of this relationship. Neither family influence nor perception of teasing predicted the outcome variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, these results provide important information about the factors implicated in the consideration of cosmetic surgery by women. This research confirms that cosmetic surgeons need to adopt a base psychological approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nerini
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanile
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult