Research Article

Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study

Volume: 22 Number: 6 December 17, 2025
TR EN

Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study compared social media use, attitudes toward aesthetic surgery, and psychosocial factors between a social media group (SMG) and an aesthetic surgery group (ECG). This descriptive and comparative study included 120 social media users and 120 individuals planning to undergo aesthetic surgery. The findings indicated that, in both groups, single participants exhibited higher levels of social media addiction and self-esteem. In the SMG, associate degree graduates exhibited higher self-esteem than master’s degree graduates (p=0.022), whereas in the ECG, primary school graduates had higher levels of depression than associate degree graduates (p=0.014). Additionally, in the ECG, individuals whose income was lower than their expenses showed higher levels of social media addiction than other income groups (p=0.001; p=0.048). After aesthetic surgery, participants showed increases in social media addiction, the impact of body image on quality of life, positive attitudes toward aesthetic surgery, and body satisfaction, while depression levels decreased compared to pre-surgery levels and social media users (p<0.001). Furthermore, in the ECG, as the positive impact of body image on quality of life increased, the acceptance of aesthetic surgery also increased (p=0.022). These findings underscore the need for community-based initiatives that enhance media literacy, promote positive body image, and bolster self-esteem. They also indicate that individuals considering aesthetic surgery should be evaluated for social media addiction and depressive symptoms.

Keywords

aesthetic surgery, body perception, depression, quality of life, self esteem, social media

Ethical Statement

Araştırmanın yürütülebilmesi için KOU Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan (Tarih: 22.12.2022, Karar No: KÜ GOKAEK-2022/21.15) ve verilerin toplanacağı hastaneden yazılı izin alınmıştır.

Thanks

Çalışmada istatistiksel analizlerdeki katkılarından dolayı Prof. Dr. Canan Baydemir'e teşekkür ederiz.

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APA
Mert, S., & Kersu, Ö. (2025). Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 22(6), 1279-1294. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1757677
AMA
1.Mert S, Kersu Ö. Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study. OPUS JSR. 2025;22(6):1279-1294. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1757677
Chicago
Mert, Selda, and Özlem Kersu. 2025. “Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22 (6): 1279-94. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1757677.
EndNote
Mert S, Kersu Ö (December 1, 2025) Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22 6 1279–1294.
IEEE
[1]S. Mert and Ö. Kersu, “Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study”, OPUS JSR, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 1279–1294, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1757677.
ISNAD
Mert, Selda - Kersu, Özlem. “Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22/6 (December 1, 2025): 1279-1294. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1757677.
JAMA
1.Mert S, Kersu Ö. Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study. OPUS JSR. 2025;22:1279–1294.
MLA
Mert, Selda, and Özlem Kersu. “Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, vol. 22, no. 6, Dec. 2025, pp. 1279-94, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1757677.
Vancouver
1.Selda Mert, Özlem Kersu. Social Media, Aesthetic Surgery, and Psychosocial Factors: A Comparative Study. OPUS JSR. 2025 Dec. 1;22(6):1279-94. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1757677