Selfie Editing and Consideration of Cosmetic Surgery Among Young Chinese Women: The Role of Self-Objectification and Facial Dissatisfaction

Research reveals significant positive associations between selfie editing and consideration of cosmetic surgery, yet little is known about why this relationship exists. To address this question, the present study investigated the association between selfie editing and consideration of cosmetic surgery among young Chinese women and the mediating effects of self-objectification and facial dissatisfaction. A sample of 589 Chinese undergraduate women completed measures of selfie editing, self-objectification, facial dissatisfaction, and consideration of cosmetic surgery. Results showed that selfie editing was significantly positively correlated with consideration of cosmetic surgery. Self-objectification and facial dissatisfaction mediated this association along two mediating paths: the separate mediating effects of self-objectification and the serial mediating effects of self-objectification and facial dissatisfaction. Findings from the current study suggest that the use of photo editing applications is a risk factor for young women’s body image concerns and consideration of cosmetic surgery, which supports encouraging women to reduce the use of photo editing applications and indicates insights into possible prevention and intervention programs intended to reduce consideration of cosmetic surgery among women.