Abstract
This study investigates the influence of Self Esteem and Body Image on young adults who have undergone cosmetic surgery. There were a total of 212 participants who took part in the research, 109 participants were female and 103 were male. A total of 46 participants admitted to undergoing some form of cosmetic surgery. The questionnaire contained biographical details and a brief self developed questionnaire to distinguish between participants who have had cosmetic surgery and who have not. Rosenberg self esteem scale was used to measure self esteem among participants. To measure body image, a body esteem scale by Franzoi and Shields was used. The mean score for self esteem in relation to participants who have had cosmetic surgery is 30.13 and the participants who had no cosmetic surgery is 32.60. There was a significant difference between the two groups, this was supported using the t-test (t (210) = -2.38, p > .018). The mean score in body image for males who do have had cosmetic surgery is 33.70. The mean score for males who do not have cosmetic surgery with relation to body image is 132.50. There is not a significant difference in male body image between men who have cosmetic surgery and not. This is supported with the t-test (t (211) = -.330, p >.742). The mean score for body image in females with cosmetic surgery is 122.63 and the score for body image in females with no cosmetic surgery is 124.12. There was not a significant difference in body image between females with cosmetic surgery and those without. This is supported using the t-test (t(107) = .590, p > .747).
