Mediation effect of appearance self-esteem on relationship between perfectionism and mental health

ObjectiveTo explore the mediation of appearance self-esteem between physical appearance perfectionism and mental health.MethodsA total of 120 persons receiving plastic and anesthetic surgery were surveyed with Physical Satisfaction Scale(PSS),Social Appearance Anxiety Scale(SAAS),Physical Appearance Perfectionism Scale(PAPS),Appearance Self-Esteem Scale(ASES),Appearance Stress Scale(ASS),and Body Image Concern Inventory(BICI)on the day before the operation.The data were analyzed with hierarchical regression and correlation.ResultsSignificant positive correlations were found between worry about imperfection and social appearance anxiety,appearance stress,and body image concern(r=0.673,0.590,0,610;P<0.01 for all)and significant negative correlations were found between worry about imperfection and general physical satisfaction,facial satisfaction,figure satisfaction,and appearance self-esteem(r=-0.536,-0.550,-0.385,-0.354;P<0.01 for all).Significant positive correlations were found between appearance self-esteem and general physical satisfaction,facial satisfaction and figure satisfaction(r=0.436,0.309,0.479;P<0.01 for all)and significant negative correlations were found between appearance self-esteem and social appearance anxiety,worry about imperfection,appearance stress,and body image concern(r=-0.392,-0.354,-0.592,-0,264;P<0.01 for all).Significant correlations were found among worry about imperfection,appearance self-esteem,and mental health(P<0.01).The appearance self-esteem partially mediated the ralationships between worry about imperfection and general physical satisfaction,social appearance anxiety,figure satisfactions and appearance stress;and after introducing appearance self-esteem,the standardized coefficients were reduced from 0.536,0.388,0.673,and 0.590 to 0.436,0.250,0.610,and 0.435,respectively,with significant difference(P<0.01 for all).The appearance self-esteem did not mediate the ralationships between worry about imperfection and facial satisfaction,body image concern.There was no mediation of appearance self-esteem between hope for perfection and mental health because no correlation between hope for perfection and other mental health was observed.ConclusionThe appearance self-esteem partially mediates the ralationship between physical appearance perfectionism and mental health,and it could soothe the appearance-related negative mental problems effectively and improve the appearance-related positive mental health.