Mustafa ACAR, Mustafa YAZIR, Sevilay AYNACI, Tarik YAGCI
European Journal of Rhinology and Allergy - 2025;8(3):105-109
Background: The urban environment may influence how adolescents perceive their appearance. We compared nasal and facial self-perception among 14- to 16-year-olds living in a large city (İzmir), a medium-sized city (Eskişehir), and a small city (Bilecik) in Turkey. Methods: In a school-based cross-sectional survey, 100 adolescents (aged 14-16 years) completed a brief Nasal and Facial Self-Perception (NFSP) questionnaire assessing appearance satisfaction, social confidence, and appearance-related preoccupation on a 5-point Likert scale. The instrument content was based on established patient-reported measures used in facial/aesthetic research. Group differences were analyzed descriptively. Results: Adolescents in İzmir reported the highest scores on both appearance satisfaction and social confidence. Bilecik reported lower scores and higher appearance-related preoccupation, while Eskişehir was in between. Sex-related patterns were consistent with the literature (girls generally more self-critical), but city size differences remained across sexes. Conclusion: In this pilot study, adolescents in a large metropolitan setting were, on average, more confident about their nose and face appearance than their peers in small-town environments. Urbanicity, neighborhood context, and sociocultural exposure likely influence these perceptions. Further research using validated tools, larger samples, and controls for socioeconomic and digital media factors is needed.
