Explaining the mediation role of rumination in the relationship between personality traits and perceived stress with body image concern

The desire for beauty has long existed in human nature. Cosmetic surgery has been considered for creating beauty and an optimal mental image today. The purpose of present study was to explain the mediation role of rumination in the relationship between personality traits and perceived stress with body image concern.

The present research was a correlation type study in which 345 applicants for cosmetic surgery who referred to surgical centers in Northern Tehran in 2017 were voluntarily selected by convenient and purposive sampling method. They answered to the demographic questionnaires, perceived stress by Cohen et al. (1983), the personality by NEO (1985), body image concern by Littleton (2005) and ruminative responses by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991). Data analysis was done at descriptive and inferential levels using normality tests, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling by SPSS-ver.24, Amos software.

The results showed that the model for measuring the variables of research was valid and rumination had a mediation role in the relationship between personality traits and perceived stress with the body image concern in applicants for cosmetic surgery. Similarly, the structural model of body image concern based on personality traits and perceived stress had a favorable fit.

Normalized scales need to be used to understand and evaluate psychology before cosmetic surgery, and this screening can reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries.