Open Access

ARTICLE

From beauty short video engagement to dietary restraint: Beauty ideals internalization and self-objectification as serial mediators

Gen Zhang, Ziyi Zhu^*
School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
* Corresponding Author: Ziyi Zhu. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.082111

Received 11 March 2026; Accepted 11 May 2026; Published online 03 July 2026

Abstract

Concerns about the relationship between short video and dietary restraint are growing, yet few studies focus on the relationship between beauty short video engagement and dietary restraint among young women. This investigation evaluated a sample of 312 Chinese women between the ages of 18 and 35 (M = 24.37, SD = 4.95). The Beauty Short Video Engagement Scale, the Beauty Ideals Internalization Scale, the Surveillance Scale, and the Cognitive Restraint Scale were implemented. A positive correlation was observed between beauty, short video engagement and dietary restraint among young women. The relationship between beauty short video engagement, and dietary restraint is mediated by beauty ideals internalization and self-objectification. Additionally, a serial mediation of beauty ideals internalization and self-objectification is valid. These findings provide a new perspective to understand young women’s dietary restraint.

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Keywords

beauty short video engagement; beauty ideals internalization; self-objectification; dietary restraint; young women

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