Self-Worth and Self-Knowledge in Iranian Patients Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Prior research has reported a psychological impairment in patients seeking cosmetic surgery. However, the role of other variables such as contingencies of self-worth and self-knowledge has been ignored. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine new psychological structures, contingencies of self-worth, and self-knowledge among patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Eighty patients (47 female and 33 male; mean age = 28.98, SD = 8.32; 40 seeking cosmetic surgery and 40 seeking surgical treatment) were randomly recruited from the Shahid Motahhari clinic in Shiraz, Iran. The patients completed the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale, Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale, Subjective Vitality Scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. The results showed that, compared to the surgical treatment group, self-worth in patients seeking cosmetic surgery was found to depend on their appearance and the approval of others. Further, the self-knowledge in patients seeking cosmetic surgery was lower than that of patients seeking surgical treatment. In addition, there were no significant differences between the two groups in vitality, depression, anxiety, and stress. It can be concluded that patients seeking cosmetic surgery have lower self-knowledge and their self-esteem depends on their appearance and the approval of others.

Prevalence of elective cosmetic surgery and its relationship with socioeconomic and mental health: A cross‐sectional study in west of Iran

“…46 However, in the study of Valikhani et al in Iran, there was no significant difference between the two groups seeking cosmetic surgery and the control group in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, and vitality. 47 According to the regression model in this study, the history of having cosmetic surgery had a significant relationship with female gender and having symptoms of mental disorder, while it had no relationship with education, income, marital status, employment status, and spiritual health. In the study of Bidkhori et al in Tehran, the prevalence of cosmetic surgery was significantly related to gender and was 2.3 times higher among women than men.…”

“…In another study in Iran, mental disorders (depression, anxiety, aggression, morbidity, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, and sensitivity in relationships) were significantly higher in cosmetic surgery applicants than non‐applicants 46 . However, in the study of Valikhani et al in Iran, there was no significant difference between the two groups seeking cosmetic surgery and the control group in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, and vitality 47 …”

“…46 However, in the study of Valikhani et al in Iran, there was no significant difference between the two groups seeking cosmetic surgery and the control group in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, and vitality. 47 …”

Suicidal Tendency and Impulsivity and Integrative Self-knowledge Among the Adult Population

“…Valikhani et al and Ghorbani et al showed that individuals with limited self-knowledge are less flexible in controlling their thoughts and emotions, ignore their psychological and physical reactions to stressful events, and, as a result, cannot make the necessary modifications. In addition, individuals with high self-awareness tend to be self-integrative and combine negative and positive beliefs that automatically reduce cognitive distortions of the environment and create an accurate and factbased imagination of self (17,32). The study by Shariat et al showed that individuals with integrative selfknowledge are optimistic and resilient in communication and interaction with others and have no depression and unreasonable self-criticism (18) In addition, previous studies showed a positive relationship between self-knowledge and psychological protective factors, such as self-compassion, mindfulness, psychological well-being, self-esteem, constructive thinking, more consistent assessment of emotions (12), and a negative relationship between selfknowledge with anxiety and perceived stress (17), rumination, and suppression of emotions (13,14,19).…”

“…In addition, individuals with high self-awareness tend to be self-integrative and combine negative and positive beliefs that automatically reduce cognitive distortions of the environment and create an accurate and factbased imagination of self (17,32). The study by Shariat et al showed that individuals with integrative selfknowledge are optimistic and resilient in communication and interaction with others and have no depression and unreasonable self-criticism (18) In addition, previous studies showed a positive relationship between self-knowledge and psychological protective factors, such as self-compassion, mindfulness, psychological well-being, self-esteem, constructive thinking, more consistent assessment of emotions (12), and a negative relationship between selfknowledge with anxiety and perceived stress (17), rumination, and suppression of emotions (13,14,19). Therefore, it is expected that the rate of self-criticism and other psychological damage associated with it, including suicide, decreases with the increase of integrative self-knowledge (19).…”