The Body as an Instrument of Transcendence: The Spiritual and Transpersonal Dimensions of Body Image among Women Who Have Undergone Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
| dc.contributor.author | Frederick, Kristelle Lynne | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-15T23:20:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-15T23:20:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2002 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this mixed qualitative and quantitative study was to investigate the spiritual and transpersonal dimensions of body image among 20 women who have undergone cosmetic plastic surgery by conducting qualitative interviews with the participants and having them complete two quantitative measures: The Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Multi-Dimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. The literature review examines the areas of body image, eating disorders, plastic surgery, spirituality definitions, spirituality in psychotherapy, spirituality and beauty, spirituality and eating disorders, and eating disorders and plastic surgery. Findings indicate that participants defined spirituality in two distinct ways: non-traditionally and traditionally. Those participants who traditionally defined spirituality seem to have a negative association with their spiritual beliefs and their decision to have surgery. In contrast, those people who defined spirituality in a more non-traditional way had a more positive association with their spiritual beliefs and their decision to have plastic surgery. Furthermore, it was found that those people who scored higher on Religious Well-Being were those participants who defined spirituality in a non-traditional way. In contrast, the people who defined spirituality more traditionally scored lower on Religious Well-Being. People who have a more traditional view of spirituality view God in a negative sense or as a punitive God. In contrast, those people who have a more non-traditional view of spirituality may view God in a more positive sense or as a benevolent God. In addition, it was found that the participants who preferred a telephone interview over a face-to-face interview tended to have more physical reasons for their surgery and commented on the intense pain they endured to improve their self-esteem and physical appearance, even though they had experienced their sense of self-changing after the surgery. Moreover, it was found that some participants had undergone cosmetic surgery due to a massive weight loss from having prior gastric bypass surgery. Lastly, the researcher discusses the clinical implications of the findings and offers suggestions for future research. 2 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/3222 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher.institution | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| dc.title | The Body as an Instrument of Transcendence: The Spiritual and Transpersonal Dimensions of Body Image among Women Who Have Undergone Cosmetic Plastic Surgery | |
| dc.type | Dissertation | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Psychology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Psychology |