Social Comparison Scale Research Articles

Impact of Social Media Use, Social Comparison & Self-Esteem Among Adolescents

The present research examined how social media, social comparison, and self-esteem affect adolescents. After an extensive literature review, these hypotheses were developed. 1) Social media use, social comparison, and self-esteem among teenagers will be significantly related. 2) Social media use will affect self-esteem among adolescents.3) Adolescent self-esteem will be affected by social comparison.4) Gender will affect adolescent social media use, comparison, and self-esteem of the 249 samples, 153 are female and 96 are male. Survey participants were 14–25 years old. Data were purposively sampled from Faisalabad educational institutions. The findings were assessed using these methods. Participant demographics were collected using a sheet. Adolescent self-esteem was measured with a scale. The Social Comparison scale measured self-comparative behavior. Participants' social media use was measured using a scale. Analyze the data using correlation, regression, and independent sample tests. Findings illuminate individual traits and tendencies.

From Clicks to Calm: Investigating the Link Between Mindfulness and Digital Hoarding Behavior Among Chinese Youth.

Digital hoarding refers to the continuous acquisition of digital content and the difficulty in disposing of it. This behavior is increasingly common among today's youth. This study aims to explore the impact of mindfulness on digital hoarding behavior, investigating self-control as a mediator and upward social comparison via social media as a moderator. A total of 956 young individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. The research instruments used included the Mindfulness Measure, the Self-Control Scale, the Social Comparison Scale, and the Digital Hoarding Behavior Questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. For more complex analyses, we examined the mediating role of self-control and the moderating effects of upward social comparison via social media in the relationship between mindfulness and digital hoarding behavior. 1) Mindfulness significantly negatively predicted digital hoarding. 2) Self-control mediated the relationship between mindfulness and digital hoarding. 3) Upward social comparison via social media moderated the relationship between mindfulness and self-control, specifically the first segment of the mediation pathway. This research is pioneering in exploring mindfulness as a protective factor against digital hoarding, offering fresh insights into this nascent field. The findings also suggest prevention and intervention strategies for digital information management disorder in young people.

Comparing upward: How parental social comparisons shape children’s self-concept and mastery motivation in China

The prevalence of Chinese parents using upward social comparisons to influence their children’s behavior is well-documented. However, the lack of reliable tools for measuring parental social comparisons, combined with a limited understanding of their association with preschoolers’ mastery motivation, highlights a significant gap in research. To bridge this gap, we undertook a comprehensive investigation. Study 1 involved the development of the Parental Social Comparison Scale. Study 2 and Study 3 explored the association between parental social comparisons and children’s mastery motivation, considering perspectives from parents (N = 194; Mage = 33.72 years, SD = 4.97) and children (N = 102; Mage = 5.14 years, SD = 3.78). We found that parental social comparisons were positively associated with children’s mastery motivation according to parents’ perceptions but were negatively associated with mastery motivation through children’s self-concept from children’s perspectives.

Social Comparison, Hope and Depression among Students of Madrasas and Schools

Present study examines social comparison, hope, and depression among madrasa and school students to see how these educational contexts affect mental health and well-being. Male and female students ages 11–17 were equally included in the sample. Participants were provided with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Adult Hope Scale, and Social Comparison Scale. Although both educational environments had moderate feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, madrasa students had more hope than school students. Despite their hopefulness, madrasa students had more despair and anxiety. Hope promotes mental health, as correlation research showed that higher hope levels were connected with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress. An independent samples t-test showed that madrasa students scored higher on depression and anxiety than school students. Madrasa students' higher rates of depression and anxiety require culturally sensitive mental health initiatives that include religious and moral teachings and provide necessary psychological care.

Upward social comparison and social anxiety among Chinese college students: a chain-mediation model of relative deprivation and rumination.

Social anxiety has consistently emerged as a prominent manifestation of mental health issues among college students. Though the relationship between upward social comparison and social anxiety has been extensively addressed in previous literature, little attention has been paid to the underlying mechanisms at play. The present study used a questionnaire survey to test whether upward social comparison may be associated with social anxiety in Chinese college students. The mediating role of relative deprivation and rumination was also examined. In total, 463 college students were recruited to complete four scales, including the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Relative Deprivation Scale, the Ruminative Thinking Scale, and the Social Anxiety Scale. The results show that upward social comparison was significantly positively correlated with relative deprivation, rumination, and social anxiety (r = 0.30, 0.31, and 0.27, respectively; p < 0.01). Second, relative deprivation was positively correlated with rumination and social anxiety (r = 0.40 and 0.17, respectively; p < 0.01). Finally, rumination was positively correlated with social anxiety (r = 0.47, p < 0.01). Moreover, upward social comparison positively predicts social anxiety, with an effect value of 0.12, while rumination plays a mediating role between upward social comparison and social anxiety, with an effect value of 0.07, and the 95% confidence interval for the indirect effect is 0.04-0.11. Separately, the chain mediation of relative deprivation and rumination had an effect value of 0.03, and the 95% confidence interval for the indirect effect is 0.02-0.05. This research highlights the relationship between upward social comparison and social anxiety in Chinese society and revealed the mediating mechanisms between them, deepening our understanding of how upward social comparison increases social anxiety.

Pengaruh Social Comparison Terhadap Fear of Missing Out Pada Mahasiswa di Universitas Negeri Padang

This research aims to determine the effect of social comparison on the fear of missing out among students at Padang State University. This research uses quantitative methods with a correlational quantitative design. The data collection technique uses cluster sampling. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire with a Likert scale model which is distributed with the help of the Google Form feature. The sample for this research was 188 respondents. The research instrument used Kurniawan &amp; Utami's (2022) fear of missing out scale which was adapted from (Sette et al., 2020), as well as a social comparison scale based on aspects of Buunk et al., (2003). The results of the research used simple linear regression analysis and the results showed that social comparison had a positive and significant effect on fear of missing out in students at Padang State University.

Influence of Social Comparison on Life Satisfaction in Young Adults: A Study amongst the Indian Population

The study delves into intricate relationship between social comparison and life satisfaction among young adults within the Indian population. Social comparison plays a significant role in shaping individuals' perceptions of their own lives relative to others'. Young adulthood, marked by developmental transitions and identity formation, presents a crucial period where individuals are particularly susceptible to the influences of social comparisons. Employing both the Social Comparison Scale (SCS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), this research investigates extent to which social comparison impacts life satisfaction. A sample size of 120 young adults was selected using convenience and stratified random sampling techniques. The findings reveal a robust positive correlation between social comparison and life satisfaction (r= 0.560, p &lt; 0.01), shedding light on the nuanced dynamics of social comparison processes and their implications for subjective well-being among young adults in Indian context. This study highlights the critical role of understanding social comparison dynamics within the unique cultural and developmental landscape of the Indian population, providing valuable insights for interventions aimed at fostering the subjective well-being of young adults.

The Impact of Mobile Social Media Use on Depressive Mood Among College Students: A Chain Mediating Effect of Upward Social Comparison and Cognitive Overload.

The 18-24 age group has a much higher rate of depression risk than other age groups, and this age group has the highest proportion among users of mobile social media. The relationship between the use of mobile social media and depressive mood is inconsistent and the mechanism of action is controversial. This study explored the relationship among the intensity of social media use, upward social comparison, cognitive overload and depressive mood. In this research, we used the Brief Self-rating Depression Scale (PHQ-9), the Social Media Usage Intensity Questionnaire, the Social Comparison Scale on Social Networking Sites and the Social Networking Site Cognitive Overload Scale to investigate the depressive mood and mobile social media use of 568 college students. The intensity of mobile social media use, social networking site upward social comparison, and social networking site cognitive overload are all positively correlated with depressive mood. The intensity of mobile social media use has a positive predictive effect on depressive mood, with upward social comparison and cognitive overload acting as independent mediators in the relationship between mobile social media use intensity and depressive symptoms, as well as exhibiting a chained mediating effect of upward social comparison-cognitive overload. The upward social comparison and cognitive load that occur during the use of mobile social media are important predictive factors for the occurrence of depressive mood. This study is a supplement to the mechanism of the relationship between mobile social media use and depression, providing more evidence-based evidence and intervention directions for university teachers, mobile social media developers, and psychologists.

Adolescents' loneliness and problematic smartphone use: The mediating role of upward social comparison and the moderating role of self‐identity

AbstractLoneliness is an important risk factor for problematic smartphone use (PSU) among adolescents and the mechanisms underlying this correlation remain unclear. In this study, a moderated serial mediation model was tested by administering the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale for Chinese Adolescents, the Loneliness Scale (LS), the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the Self‐Identity Scale to 466 Chinese adolescents. The results showed that: (1) loneliness was positively correlated with PSU, (2) upward social comparison (USC) and fear of missing out served as sequential mediating factors in the correlation between loneliness and PSU, and (3) self‐identity played a moderating role between USC and fear of missing out. These findings shed new light on developing strategies to prevent and intervene in adolescents' PSU by revealing the underlying mechanisms between loneliness and PSU.

Development and validation of the Dermatology Social Comparison (DSC) Scale.

Social comparison, the process of evaluating one's characteristics in relation to others, influences individuals' self-perception and behavior. However, instruments are scarce for assessing social comparison in the medical setting. Our aim was to develop and validate a new scale for assessing social comparison. Seven statements were developed, encompassing the perceived normality of having rashes, the tendency to compare their situation with others, and the emotional response when seeing someone better or worse off than themselves. The instrument was piloted in 15 patients for readability and face validity, then prospectively validated using modern psychometric methods in 1,053 adult patients with eczema or psoriasis from three tertiary dermatological centers in Singapore. Of 1,053 adult patients, 802 (76.2%) had eczema, and 251 (23.8%) had psoriasis. Exploratory factor analysis (using a 70% sample split) showed a single factor model comprising three questions (Eigenvalue: 1.4). Confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 30% of the sample confirmed an excellent model fit. Cronbach's alpha was 0.7, and inter-item correlations ranged from 0.42 to 0.46. In the Rasch analysis, item fit statistics and item characteristic curves showed appropriate discrimination between response options, although reliability was suboptimal with a person separation reliability of 0.63. Comprising 3 questions, the newly derived social comparison scale showed acceptable psychometrics as a measure of social comparison for clinical and research purposes in dermatology. Its brief nature likely results from its brevity and applicability to conditions beyond eczema and psoriasis, which warrants further investigation.

Social comparison and overall adjustment among freshmen in one public university

The freshmen in universities continue to face adjustment issues to new environments. Thus, transition to the university is characterized by expected independent decisions as compared to the previous secondary school teacher controlled learning environment.When the transition challenges are not well managed by the university administration, then it could lead to the emergence of psychopathology, as pre-existing mental health problems are exacerbated or new symptoms emerge in response to novel environmental stressors.The present study examined the relationship between social comparison and overall adjustment among the freshmen in one selected public university in Kenya. The study was informed by Social Comparison Theory (SCT) and Student Integration Theory.This study was anchored in the positivist research paradigm. The study was guided by the cross-sectional survey research design. The sample size comprised 213 freshmen in one public university in Western Kenya. The Social Comparison Scale and Adjustment Questionnaire were used to collect data. The validity results indicated that the Keiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was 0.753. The Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity at 95% level of confidence was significant (p-value of .000 &lt; 0.05). The finding shows that there was a low negative (r = -.142, n =213, p&lt;.05) relationship between social comparison and overall adjustment among the first year university students. The study concludes that the social comparison regression model was adequate to predict overall adjustment among first year university students [F (1, 211) = 4.366, p&lt; .05)].The study recommends that the university counseling center should develop holistic counseling therapies, which would enhance coping skills, seeking support, and counseling seeking behaviours among first year students

Instagram’s Influence on Self-representation of Young Users

Social media users are attempting to capture every moment of their life, therefore creating the visual global aesthetic that forms virtuality. This study examines the relationship between the usage of Instagram, and its influence on users’ mental health through social comparison traps, body image, stereotyping, gender differences, cultural background, unrealistic beauty standards, and fake representations. This research tried to find out that the frequency of social comparisons on Instagram may have detrimental consequences on users such as depression and feelings of inadequacy. Furthermore, due to idealized representations, individuals can struggle to distinguish between their true identities and their digital personas. Additionally, widespread usage of weight loss and body image hashtags and trends may negatively impact young adults. However, Instagram might have a beneficial impact as it allows people to express themselves in front of billions of others. A mixed research method approach was applied to fully understand this study by using the Social Comparison scale and asking open-ended short-answer questions. In this context, 105 participants aged between 18 and 25 were asked about their use of the Instagram platform and their comparisons with other users, through electronic surveys. The study aimed to show how social media affects young adults in different ways and to provide insight into how users can better protect their mental health on Instagram. Research findings reveal that Instagram users think that they make rational choices about their online behavior and personal representation, and that they use the platform in a healthy and beneficial way.

Quarter Life of Crisis in the Millennial Group in terms of Social Comparison and Resilience

Quarterlife of crisis (QLC) is becoming a new trend for individuals who are confused about their role in society. The demands of social roles and expectations from the environment are increasing as individuals enter more complex stages of adult life. The tendency of QLC is experienced by many millennials today, especially in Semarang City. The conduct of this study aims to analyze the relationship between social comparison and resilience to quarterlife of crisis in the millennial group. The sample criteria used were aged 22-29 years and lived in the city of Semarang with a sample of 105 people. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The research instruments were quarterlife crisis scale (α = .898), social comparison scale (α = .859), and resilience scale (α = .943). The data analysis method used was regression analysis of two predictors and product moment correlation with JASP 0.16 software. The results of this study showed R = 0.919; R2 = 0.845 and F = 279.002 (p &lt; .0001) means that social comparison and resilience affect the quarterlife of crisis in the millennial group. The value of the coefficient of determination of social comparison variables and resilience to quarterlife crisis variables was 84.5%. The conclusion of the study is that social comparison and resilience simultaneously affect the quarterlife crisis. The implications of the results of this study are expected to be useful not only for millennials but also parents and the surrounding community in understanding their condition about their readiness to face the future by not giving much "pressure" in the form of stigma / negative labels if they do not meet the expected standards.

The Influence of Intensity on Social Media Instagram Against Social Comparison With Group Competition as Moderator

Adolescents tend to be attracted to groups that are particularly vulnerable to the negative psychological and behavioral outcomes of using Instagram social media. Since adolescent behavior is easily shaped by the social context in which they are located, it is likely that friends may be the key that has a strong influence on the behavioral outcomes that adolescents develop from social media use. Given the concerns about the negative consequences of using Instagram social media by teenagers, this study aims to find out how the intensity of Instagram social media use affects social comparison moderated by group competition. The research method used is quantitative research methods. The subjects in this study were adolescents with Instagram social media aged 13-17 years and domiciled in the city of Makassar (N = 334) who were obtained using a cluster random sampling technique. The research data was tested using the Moderation Regression Analysis (MRA) test with the help of the Jamovi 2.3.26 program. The measuring tools used in this study are the social comparison scale, the group competition scale and the intensity scale of social media use. The results showed that there was no significant effect between the intensity of using Instagram social media on social comparison moderated by group competition (p) of 0.704 (p &gt; 0.05). This research offers additional insight into how it is important to understand that the behavior exhibited by adolescents is also strongly shaped by their peer environment. This means that not all adolescents will be affected by social media use to the same degree, but those who face social pressure from their peers are more susceptible to social comparisons.

Storing, Not Reading: Investigating the Link Between Upward Social Comparison via Social Media and Digital Hoarding Behavior in Chinese Youth.

Digital hoarding has emerged as a pervasive psychological phenomenon and behavioral challenge among contemporary youth. This study focused on exploring the relationship between upward social comparison via social media, fear of missing out (FoMO), mindfulness, digital hoarding behavior, and its underlying mechanisms. A total of 927 young people participated in this cross-sectional study. Research instruments included the Social Comparison Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Mindfulness Measure, and the Digital Hoarding Behavior Questionnaire. The data analysis comprised descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. Advanced analyses were conducted using Model 4 for mediation and Model 8 for moderation from the PROCESS macro. (1) Upward social comparison via social media was a strong predictor of digital hoarding behavior, even after controlling for variables such as gender, age, and education. (2) FoMO mediated the relationship between upward social comparison via social media and digital hoarding. (3) Mindfulness moderated both the direct effect of upward social comparison via social media on digital hoarding and the first segment of the mediating role of FoMO. The study further clarified the antecedents and psychological mechanisms that drive digital hoarding behavior. The findings contribute new perspectives for understanding the emerging concept of digital hoarding, while providing empirical evidence and valuable guidance for encouraging young adults to use social media responsibly and reduce impulsive hoarding tendencies.

The Effect of Social Network Use on Chinese College Students' Conspicuous Consumption: A Moderated Mediation Model.

This study explored the effects of social networking site use intensity, upward social comparison, and optimism on college students' conspicuous consumption and their mechanisms of action using a sample of Chinese college students. A total of 717 Chinese college students (M = 20.08, SD = 1.44; 73.9% female) completed the Social Network Use Intensity Scale, the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Life Orientation Test, and the Conspicuous Consumption Scale. The results indicate that (1) the intensity of use of social networking sites significantly positively predicts the conspicuous consumption behavior of college students; (2) upward social comparison plays a mediating role between the intensity of social networking site usage and conspicuous consumption; and (3) optimism moderates the second half of the mediating path between the intensity of social networking site use, upward social comparison, and conspicuous consumption. Specifically, the relationship between upward social comparison and conspicuous consumption among college students with low optimism levels is stronger than that among college students with high levels of optimism. Intensity has a stronger positive effect on conspicuous consumption through upward social comparison. It is concluded that the intensity of college students' use of social networking sites can affect their conspicuous consumption behavior through upward social comparison, and this relationship is moderated by optimism. The results of the study help to reveal the influence of SNS (social networking site) use behavior on conspicuous consumption and its mechanism of action and have implications for reducing the negative impact of conspicuous consumption on college students.

Psychometric evaluation and validation of Urdu Social Rank Scale for women with infertility in Pakistan.

Infertility negatively affects nearly all aspects of women's life and is a source of demotion in the rank/status of women that they have achieved after marriage. This social rank/status demotion due to infertility may result in depression and several other psychopathologies. No extant instrument is available to measure the phenomenon of social rank in women with infertility in Pakistan. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and validate the Social Rank Scale for women experiencing infertility in Pakistan. This study was conducted in four phases. The data were collected from women with primary infertility who visited hospitals all over Pakistan from 2016 to 2018. Social Rank Scale for Women with Infertility (SRS-WI) comprising of two scales, the Social Comparison Scale for Women with Infertility (SCS-WI) and the Submissive Behavior Scale for Women with Infertility (SBS-WI), was developed. The factor structure of 37 items of SCS-WI and of 21 items of SBS-WI was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 215 women with primary infertility with an age range of 20-45 years (Mage = 31.03; SD = 6.18). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation method yielded a three-factor solution for SCS-WI, and 32 items were retained for SCS-WI that accounted for 62.38% variance. For SBS-WI, a uni-factor solution was obtained, and 20 items were retained for SBS-WI, which collectively accounted for 42.01% variance. The factor structure for both scales was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis among a sample of 210 participants with good model fit indices. The study provides acceptable psychometric properties of the SRS-WI in Pakistan. Testing of psychometric properties in different groups of samples would justify the generalized use of the instrument.

The Relationship Between Social Comparison and Body Dissatisfaction on Students at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo

This study aims to determine the relationship between social comparison and body dissatisfaction among female students at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo. This study uses a correlational quantitative approach. The hypothesis in this study is that there is a relationship between social comparison and body dissatisfaction among female students at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo. The sampling technique in this study used Quota Sampling with a sample of 362 female students from a total population of 6,104. The measuring instrument used for data collection uses a social comparison scale adapted from Hastuti (2018) research with a reliability level of 0.821, and a body dissatisfaction scale adapted using research from Kumalasari (2015) with a reliability level of 0.807. The data collection technique used a questionnaire via google form and distributed directly and the data analysis in this study used the Person Product Moment correlation test with the help of the SPSS 21 statistical application for windows, the results were (r) = 0.380; significance of 0.000 (p&lt;0.05). The results of this study indicate that there is a positive relationship between social comparison and body dissatisfaction among female students at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo. So that the hypothesis proposed in this study is accepted, it means that the higher the social comparison among female students, the higher the body dissatisfaction among female students. And conversely, the lower the social comparison among female students, the lower the body dissatisfaction among female students. The effective contribution of the body dissatisfaction variable is 14.4% to social comparison.

Pengaruh Perbandingan Sosial Pada Teman Sebaya Terhadap Citra Tubuh Siswa SMPN 6 Makassar

This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of social comparisons between peers on the body image of SMPN 6 Makassar students. The method used in this research is quantitative. Measuring tool used in this study is the social comparison scale on peers and body image. The subjects of this research were 286 students of SMPN 6 Makassar. The results of the hypothesis test showed that the value of p = 0.000 (p &lt;0.05), the correlation value = -0.816, and the value of Rsquare = 0,666. Based on these results, there is an influence of social comparisons between peers on the body image of SMPN 6 Makassar students with a negative correlation value, meaning that the higher the social comparisons between r peers, the lower the body image and social comparisons. peers have an influence of 66.6% on body image. student

The Relationship between Self-Esteem and Social Comparison With Body Image of Young People in Makassar City

Body image is one of the problems experienced by adolescents during their development. Body image is an evaluation carried out by adolescents on their physical appearance and body shape.. Factors that can influence a teenager's high or low body image are self-esteem and social comparison. This research aims to determine the relationship between self-esteem and social comparison and body image of adolescents in the city of Makassar. There were 311 research respondents who lived in the city of Makassar. The measuring instruments used are the self-esteem scale, social comparison scale and body image scale. Data were analyzed using multiple correlation techniques. The results of the study show that there is a relationship between self-esteem and social comparison on the body image of adolescents in the city of Makassar with a sig value of 0.000&lt;0.05. Based on the R2 value, the results obtained were 0.280, so it can be said that self-esteem and social comparison mutually influence adolescent body image by 28% and 72% are influenced by factors outside the study. The implications of this research are that increasing self-esteem and reducing social comparison can be used as an intervention model to improve adolescent body image.