Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Adolescent desire for cosmetic surgery : associations with bullying and psychological functioning

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Lee, Kirsty, Guy, Alexa, Dale, Jeremy and Wolke, Dieter (2017) Adolescent desire for cosmetic surgery : associations with bullying and psychological functioning. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , 139 (5). pp. 1109-1118. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003252 ISSN 1529-4242.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-cosmetic-surgery-bullying-Wolke-2017.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (1018Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000003252

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Background

Adolescent bullying may be a key driver of interest in cosmetic surgery. This study examined the extent of such interest and whether any effect was sex-specific, and examined psychological functioning as a potential mechanism through which bullying involvement may lead to a wish for cosmetic surgery.

Methods

A two-stage design was used. In the first stage, 2782 adolescents (aged 11 to 16 years) were screened for bullying involvement using self-reports and peer nominations. In the second stage, 752 adolescents who were bullies, victims, bully-victims, or uninvolved in bullying reported their desire for cosmetic surgery. Psychological functioning was constructed as a composite of self-esteem and emotional problems (assessed at stage 1) and body-esteem scores (assessed at stage 2).

Results

Adolescents involved in bullying in any role were significantly more interested in cosmetic surgery than uninvolved adolescents. Desire for cosmetic surgery was greatest in adolescents who were bullied (victims and bully-victims) and girls. Desire for cosmetic surgery was highest in girls, but sex did not interact with bullying role. Being victimized by peers resulted in poor psychological functioning, which increased desire for cosmetic surgery. In contrast, desire for cosmetic surgery in bullies was not related to psychological functioning, which was in the normal range.

Conclusions

Bullying victimization is related to poor psychological functioning, and both are related to a greater desire for cosmetic surgery in adolescents. Cosmetic surgeons should screen candidates for psychological vulnerability and may want to include a short screening questionnaire for a history of peer victimization.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
R Medicine > RD Surgery
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Surgery, Plastic -- Psychological aspects, Surgery, Plastic -- Sex differences, Teenagers, Victims of bullying, Body image in adolescence, Peer pressure in adolescence, Bullies, Medical screening, Adolescent psychology -- Health aspects
Journal or Publication Title: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
ISSN: 1529-4242
Official Date: 1 May 2017
Dates:
DateEvent
1 May 2017Published
24 September 2016Accepted
Volume: 139
Number: 5
Page Range: pp. 1109-1118
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003252
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit: 22 March 2017
Date of first compliant Open Access: 1 May 2018

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us