How Is the Relationship of Spiritual Health and Body Image with the Desire for Aesthetic Surgery among Students?

BACKGROUND: The desire for aesthetic surgery in Iran has increased. The relationship between spirituality and body image has not been studied simultaneously with the desire for aesthetic surgery. The present study aimed to examine this relationship among students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. METHODS: In this analytical cross-sectional study in 2019, 397 students were enrolled by stratified random sampling. The data were collected using the Paloutzian and Ellison’s spiritual health questionnaire and Appearance Schemas Inventory. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 22.26±4.24 years, while 26.7% of the subjects had desire for aesthetic surgery. There was a significant negative correlation between body image and spiritual health (p<0.001). The mean score of spiritual health and its dimensions in female students were higher than males. Based on logistic regression model, age (p=0.018, 95% CI: 0.341-0.904) and body image (p<0.001, 95% CI: 1.05-1.112) had significant correlation with the desire for aesthetic surgery. CONCLUSION: According to the results; it is necessary to make plans for the promotion of spirituality and the strengthening of a positive body image among students residing in student homes, male students and those who desire to engage aesthetic surgery.