Automatic thoughts mediate the relationship between social appearance anxiety and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery

Previous studies have examined the relationship between social appearance anxiety and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain relatively underexplored. Drawing on cognitive perspectives suggesting that appearance-related anxiety may activate negative self-referent cognitions, the present study examined automatic thoughts as a potential mediating mechanism linking social appearance anxiety to attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Data were collected from 251 nursing students (167 females; Mage = 21.24, SD = 2.22). Mediation analyses indicated that automatic thoughts significantly mediated the relationship between social appearance anxiety and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. These findings contribute to the literature by highlighting a cognitive pathway that may help explain how social appearance anxiety is associated with attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Empirical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.