Body Image, Objectification, and Attitudes Toward Cosmetic Surgery

Objectification theory has been used to explain how women's experiences of sexual objectification results in self-objectification, self-surveillance, and body shame, with emerging research linking these factors with positive attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. The present study aimed to further examine the utility of the objectification model in predicting women's interest in cosmetic surgery. Participants were 233 Australian female undergraduate students who completed an online questionnaire. The results from two multiple regression analyses supported the hypotheses that sexual objectification, self-objectification, self-surveillance, and body shame predicted an increased acceptance as well as consideration of cosmetic surgery. The results suggest that objectification theory is a useful framework in explaining Australian women's desire for cosmetic surgery, highlighting the need for further investigation into positive body image.