The Impact of AI-Powered Beauty Perceptions and Social Media Awareness Regarding Appearance on Social Appearance Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Cosmetic Surgery
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 145
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Social Appearance Anxiety
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to examine the relationship between social media use, perceptions of AI-generated beauty standards, and social appearance anxiety among individuals planning aesthetic surgery. The increasing exposure to idealized and digitally modified appearances through social media and generative artificial intelligence may shape individuals' beauty perceptions, increase appearance-related comparisons, and influence expectations regarding aesthetic surgical procedures. By evaluating social media usage characteristics, attitudes toward AI-generated beauty standards, and social appearance anxiety during the preoperative period, this study seeks to identify psychosocial factors that may affect surgical decision-making and expectations. The findings are expected to contribute to the identification of individuals at psychosocial risk, the development of realistic surgical expectations, and the planning of appropriate nursing counseling and psychosocial support interventions.
Detailed Description
With the proliferation of social media platforms in recent years, individuals are exposed to idealized body and facial appearances more than ever before. Filtered, edited, and perfected images shared on these platforms can influence how individuals evaluate their own appearance, increasing social appearance anxiety. Digital environments, where appearance-focused content is heavily shared, create a breeding ground for individuals to compare themselves to others and internalize unrealistic beauty standards.
Developing generative artificial intelligence technologies have further advanced this process. AI-powered applications can quickly alter users' facial and body features, creating idealized and often unattainable beauty appearances. This situation reshapes individuals' aesthetic expectations, increasing their dissatisfaction with their current appearance and affecting their expectations regarding surgical interventions. Identifying the psychosocial impacts of these technologies, especially in individuals planning aesthetic surgery, will contribute to a more holistic evaluation of the surgical decision-making process.
Although aesthetic surgical procedures have different clinical indications, appearance, body image, self-esteem, and social life are significantly affected in both patient groups. Evaluating patients' social media usage characteristics, attitudes towards the AI-generated beauty standards, and social appearance anxieties in the pre-surgical period can contribute to the formation of realistic surgical expectations, the identification of individuals at psychosocial risk, and the planning of necessary nursing counseling and psychosocial support programs.
Although there are studies in the literature examining the relationship between social media use, body image, and the desire for aesthetic surgery, there are no studies that evaluate the perception of beauty shaped by artificial intelligence, social media awareness related to appearance, and social appearance anxiety within the same model. Therefore, it is believed that the planned study will fill an important gap in the literature by revealing the psychosocial consequences of the effects of artificial intelligence and digital media in aesthetic surgeries and will provide evidence-based contributions to surgical nursing practices.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Other
- Time Perspective
- Cross Sectional
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Must be 18 years of age or older
- •Must understand and speak Turkish
- •Must have a planned aesthetic surgery procedure at the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic
- •Must use a smartphone
- •Must actively use at least one social media platform (Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, etc.) and an artificial intelligence program (ChatGpt, Google Gemini, Monica AI, etc.)
- •Must be willing to participate in the research
Exclusion Criteria
- •Being unable to reliably answer the scales due to a diagnosed severe psychiatric illness (psychotic disorder, manic phase of bipolar disorder, etc.) or cognitive impairment
- •Being unable to complete the data collection form due to vision, hearing, or communication problems
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Social Appearance Anxiety
Time Frame: The day before the surgery
The scale is suitable for adults and consists of 16 questions on a 5-point Likert scale ((1) Not Suitable at All, (5) Completely Suitable). The minimum-maximum score range is 16-80. Higher scores on the scale indicate higher appearance anxiety.
AI-Assisted Beauty Perception Level
Time Frame: The day before the surgery
The scale is one-dimensional and uses a 5-point Likert scale (Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Undecided, Agree, Strongly Agree). The minimum and maximum score range is 10-50. It is a self-assessment scale. There are no reverse items. As the score increases, it is interpreted as an increase in AI-assisted beauty perception.
Appearance-Related Social Media Awareness Level
Time Frame: The day before the surgery
The scale is a 13-item, 7-point Likert-type scale (1 = Never, 2 = Almost Never, 3 = Rarely, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Frequently, 6 = Almost Always, 7 = Always). The minimum-maximum score range is 13-91. It questions individuals' experiences with social media. High scores on the Appearance-Related Social Media Awareness Scale, which has no cut-off value, have been shown to be associated with body image variables, eating disorders, and depressive symptoms.
Secondary Outcomes
- Appearance Perception and Surgical Motivation(The day before the surgery)
- Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, and Filter Usage(The day before surgery)
Investigators
Ezgi Arslan
PhD
Aydin Adnan Menderes University