Analysis of Perceptions of Body Image, Body Satisfaction, and Interest in Cosmetic Surgery Based on Social Media Usage Trends

This study empirically examines the impact of social media use on body image perception, social comparison behavior, body satisfaction, and interest in cosmetic surgery among women in their 20s and 30s. An online survey was conducted with 281 female participants, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, employing frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and chi-square tests (χ² test). The results indicate that higher frequency of social media use is significantly associated with increased internalization of ideal beauty standards (p<.05), leading to greater dissatisfaction with body image. Additionally, increased social media use was linked to lower body satisfaction and a higher interest in cosmetic surgery (p<.05). Notably, individuals who frequently use Instagram and consume beauty-related content experienced greater social comparison pressure and dissatisfaction with their body (p<.01), which further amplified their interest in cosmetic surgery. Future research should expand its scope by including diverse age groups and genders, as this study is limited to women in their 20s and 30s.