Beyond Appearance: Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics of Cosmetic Procedure Clients Compared to the General Population

Abstract

Background: Cosmetic procedures have raised interest in the psychological profiles of beauty clinic clients. Understanding their mental and behavioral health compared to the general population can help inform appropriate screening and clinical decision-making. Objectives: This study compares the prevalence and severity of psychological symptoms between beauty clinic clients and individuals from the general population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 participants: 200 beauty clinic clients and 200 individuals from the general population in Tehran. Behavioral symptoms were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (independent t-tests, chi-square) were used. Results: Significant differences in demographic characteristics were observed between the two groups (P < 0.001). Individuals from the general population reported higher levels of anxiety, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and psychosis (P < 0.05). No significant group differences were found for depression, somatization, aggression, phobia, or paranoid ideation. After adjustment for demographic variables, group differences remained evident for some psychological symptom domains. Conclusions: Contrary to common assumptions, beauty clinic clients in this sample did not exhibit higher levels of psychological symptoms compared with the general population. These findings should be interpreted descriptively rather than causally, as residual confounding cannot be fully excluded despite demographic adjustment. Overall, cosmetic interest does not appear to be inherently associated with elevated psychological distress. Incorporating routine psychological symptom screening in cosmetic settings may support ethically informed clinical decision-making and help identify individuals who may benefit from further psychological evaluation.