Cosmetic Use, Body Image and Psychological Health of Mothers: A Nigerian Study

Eke OH ¹ *, Odo OV ² , Onyenyirionwu UG ³ and Ebulum GC ⁴

¹ Clinical Psychology Unit, Medical Center University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
² Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
³ Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
⁴ David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu Ebonyi State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Eke OH., Clinical Psychology Unit, Medical Center University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Received: October 14, 2025; Published: January 31, 2026

Abstract

Research evidence indicates that use of cosmetics and perceived body image has contributes to mental health in diverse populations. Its impact has been given little research attention in Nigeria. The present study examined cosmetic use, body image and psychological health of mothers. Participants were 280 mothers drawn from a University Medical Centre in eastern Nigeria using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected by means of self-report measures. Multiple regression results showed that cosmetic use positively predicted psychological well-being of total sample. Body image negatively predicted psychological well-being of total sample. In order to promote maternal mental health, cosmetic use and body image should be addressed by researchers and healthcare practitioners.

 Keywords: Cosmetic Use; Body Image; Mothers; Psychological Health; Nigeria

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Citation

Citation: Eke OH., et al. “Cosmetic Use, Body Image and Psychological Health of Mothers: A Nigerian Study". Acta Scientific Women's Health 8.2 (2026): 03-07.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Eke OH., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.