Does #beauty have a dark side? Testing mediating pathways between engagement with beauty content on social media and cosmetic surgery consideration

Beauty content on social media has grown exponentially, however research has yet to investigate its association with appearance concerns. This study drew on components of the tripartite influence model to test the associations between young women's engagement with beauty content on social media and cosmetic surgery consideration. A sample of 399 undergraduate women aged 17-25years (Mage = 19.36) completed measures of beauty social media engagement, upward appearance comparison, general attractiveness internalization, dysmorphic appearance concerns, and consideration of cosmetic surgery. Path analysis was used to test direct and indirect associations. In line with the tripartite influence model, results supported a serial mediation model that comprised significant paths from beauty social media engagement through in turn, upward appearance comparison, general attractiveness internalization, and dysmorphic appearance concerns, to cosmetic surgery consideration. However, neither general attractiveness internalization nor dysmorphic appearance concerns mediated the link between beauty social media engagement and consideration of cosmetic surgery. Findings provide new insights into the links between engagement with the growing beauty social media trend and cosmetic surgery consideration. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.