Early Maladaptive Schemas, Body Image, and Self-Esteem in Iranian Patients Undergone Cosmetic Surgery Compared with Normal Individuals

Objective: The interest in cosmetic surgery has increased dramatically during recent years and psychologists have focused on the associations of this interest. The present study aimed to compare cosmetic surgery patients and normal individuals in terms of their early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), body image (BI), and self-esteem, as well as investigate the relationships of EMSs and self-esteem with BI.  Methods: 120 university students (60 patients with cosmetic surgery and 60 normal individuals) completed the Short Form of the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-SF), Multidimensional Body-Self Questionnaire (MBSRQ), and Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem Test (CSEI). To investigate data, multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient test, and multiple regressions were administered. SPSS-20 software was used for statistical analysis.  Results: Groups study showed significant differences in their appearance evaluation. Findings indicated significant correlations between domains of disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy, and self-esteem with BI. Also, results indicated that EMSs and self-esteem were the significant predictors of BI.  Conclusion: Cosmetic surgery can improve one’s appearance, but to gain a comprehensive understanding of its causes and outcomes, we must consider various social and psychological factors and their interactions.