Selfie behavior and cosmetic surgery consideration in adolescents: the mediating roles of physical appearance comparisons and facial appearance concern
Abstract
Selfie activity may contribute to the acceptance of cosmetic surgery in adolescents, although few empirical studies exist. Based on social comparison theory, this study examined the association between selfie behavior and cosmetic surgery consideration among Chinese adolescents and further tested the possible mediating roles of social comparison and facial appearance concern in this relationship. A sample of 537 adolescents (339 girls and 198 boys) were recruited voluntarily to complete questionnaires on selfie behavior, upward physical appearance comparison, facial appearance concern and cosmetic surgery consideration. Linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted. The results showed that selfie behavior predicted higher level of adolescents' cosmetic surgery consideration. Moreover, this relationship was sequentially mediated through upward physical appearance comparison and facial appearance concern. These findings expand the existent literature by suggesting that selfie behavior may trigger upward social comparison in adolescents, which in turn increase their acceptance of cosmetic surgery.
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Selfie behavior in the adolescent population predicted higher levels of cosmetic surgery consideration, mediated by physical appearance comparisons to individuals they looked up to.
“Additionally, Lyu et al. proved that selfie behavior in the adolescent population predicted higher levels of cosmetic surgery consideration, which was mediated by the physical appearance comparisons to the individuals they looked up to [76].”
From The Impact of Social Media & Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2025) · cites this paper as [76]
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References 59 · Cited by 17
- Authors
- Lyu, Z., Wang, Y., Chen, C., & Zheng, P.
- Affiliations
- Yangzhou University (CN)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Chongqing Normal University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zheng, Panpan
- Venue
- Psychology, Health & Medicine
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-11-20
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 2273-2285
- ISSN
- 1354-8506 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3966
- OpenAlex
- W4309513616
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2
- FWCI
- 2.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology Health & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (31871110, 31800925)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Perception and Purchasing Behavior
- Keywords
- adolescents, upward social comparison, physical appearance comparison, social comparison theory, Chinese adolescents
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