Ethnicity and Association to Cosmetic Surgery and Body Dysmorphic Disorder In High-Schooled Females

School Name

Chapin High School

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Sociology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Written Paper Award

3rd Place

Abstract

The trend of teenagers obtaining cosmetic procedures is rapidly increasing. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in the United States alone, approximately 229,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on patients aged 13 to 19 in 2017. Cosmetic procedures are defined as “surgical and nonsurgical procedures that enhance and reshape structures of the body to improve appearance and confidence.” On the other hand, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental disorder that involves a repetitive thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in one’s self appearance. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, BDD affects 1.7% to 2.4% of the general population--about 1 in 50 people. A common symptom of BDD includes constantly seeking frequent cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction. This study investigates whether there is a significance in association among BDD and a desire for cosmetic procedures among high school females. Additionally, ethnicity will be used as an explanatory variable in examining whether there is an association or correlation to a desire for cosmetic procedures. A chi-squared statistic test is used in order to find significance among ethnicity and desire for cosmetic surgery as well as an association between ethnicity and BDD. The outcome showed that Black/African American and Hispanic females are identified with an increased desire for cosmetic procedures and the most identified and affected by BDD. The implications of this study could reveal that it is necessary to increase awareness of the effects of BDD on teenage girls in schools.

Location

Founders Hall 251 C

Start Date

3-30-2019 11:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 11:00 AM

Ethnicity and Association to Cosmetic Surgery and Body Dysmorphic Disorder In High-Schooled Females

Founders Hall 251 C

The trend of teenagers obtaining cosmetic procedures is rapidly increasing. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in the United States alone, approximately 229,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on patients aged 13 to 19 in 2017. Cosmetic procedures are defined as “surgical and nonsurgical procedures that enhance and reshape structures of the body to improve appearance and confidence.” On the other hand, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental disorder that involves a repetitive thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in one’s self appearance. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, BDD affects 1.7% to 2.4% of the general population--about 1 in 50 people. A common symptom of BDD includes constantly seeking frequent cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction. This study investigates whether there is a significance in association among BDD and a desire for cosmetic procedures among high school females. Additionally, ethnicity will be used as an explanatory variable in examining whether there is an association or correlation to a desire for cosmetic procedures. A chi-squared statistic test is used in order to find significance among ethnicity and desire for cosmetic surgery as well as an association between ethnicity and BDD. The outcome showed that Black/African American and Hispanic females are identified with an increased desire for cosmetic procedures and the most identified and affected by BDD. The implications of this study could reveal that it is necessary to increase awareness of the effects of BDD on teenage girls in schools.