Social media social comparison and identity distress at the college transition: A dual‐path model

Abstract

Introduction: Social media provide a convenient platform for social comparison, an activity that should play an important role in youth's identity development at the transition to college. Yet, the identity implications of online social comparison have not been thoroughly explored. Drawing on the theories of social comparison, introspective processes, and identity distress, we examined a dual-path model. The paths from two types of social media social comparison (i.e., comparison of ability and comparison of opinion) to two introspective processes (i.e., rumination and reflection) and finally to identity distress were tested. Methods: Short-term longitudinal survey data were collected from 219 college freshmen at a state university in the United States of America (M age = 18.29, S.D. = 0.75; 74% female; 41% White, 38% Black). Results: Social comparison of ability on social media had a positive association with concurrent rumination, which predicted higher identity distress. In contrast, social comparison of opinion on social media had a positive relationship with concurrent reflection, which, however, did not predict identity distress. Conclusion:Results indicate that different types of online social comparison yield distinct implications for young people's identity development. Largely, the study reaffirms the recently rising call for distinguishing the competition-based social comparison of ability from the information-based social comparison of opinion. At the same time, the study expands current knowledge of why these forms of social comparison may lead to differential outcomes, namely through the type of introspection they induce.Identity development is a major developmental task for adolescents and emerging adults (Arnett, 2014;Erikson, 1968). The task seems particularly challenging in modern society, where major socio-cultural changes make it a more complicated issue . For instance, scholars have discussed how globalization and economic recessions may require more time for identity exploration and delay youth's identity commitment and integration (Arnett, 2002;Sica, Sestito, & Ragozini, 2014). This study turned to the growth of social media as another contributor to the complexity of identity negotiation in the digital age. Specifically, it explored the identity implications of a widely experienced behavior on social media-social comparison, the process of comparing oneself with others as a way to understand and evaluate oneself (Festinger, 1954).Identity development in the social media context is typically studied through the lens of online self-presentation (e.g., Manago,

Investigating predictors of online vigilance among university students

“…This aligns with findings indicating a positive correlation between rumination and problematic Facebook use which suggests that rumination about offline relationships may drive excessive social media use with the aim of satisfying or relieving such rumination and alleviating negative mood (Dempsey et al, 2019). The relationship between social comparison on social media and rumination among university students has also been investigated (Yang et al, 2018). The study distinguished between social comparison of ability during which individuals compare their performance or achievement to that of others, and social comparison of opinion during which comparison is based on differences in attitudes, beliefs, and values.…”

“…The present study considers three of these -emotional intelligence, rumination and identity distress. These characteristics were chosen on the basis of their reported associations with theoretical constructs that are adjacent to or congruent with one or more of the dimensions of online vigilance (e.g., media multitasking and problematic social media use; Dempsey et al, 2019;Hornung et al, 2018;Kircaburun, 2019;Süral et al, 2019;Ward, 2017;Yang et al, 2018).…”

“…Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), some of its characteristics are recognised as key components in various personality and dissociative disorders (Yang et al, 2018). Considering its potential interaction with online vigilance, Yang et al, (2018) note that online media expose adolescents to an increasingly wide range of choices concerning key identity factors like value systems, worldview, religion and sexual orientation.…”

“…Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), some of its characteristics are recognised as key components in various personality and dissociative disorders (Yang et al, 2018). Considering its potential interaction with online vigilance, Yang et al, (2018) note that online media expose adolescents to an increasingly wide range of choices concerning key identity factors like value systems, worldview, religion and sexual orientation. Ward (2017, p. 34), accordingly, argues that adolescents' "online and offline lives have become inextricably intertwined and that while social media can provide valuable opportunities for adolescent identity exploration, it can also have a significant impact on identity exploration [...] and may be placing adolescents at risk".…”

Artificial neural networks for predicting social comparison effects among female Instagram users

“…It can help to restore threatened self-esteem, but also happiness and pride [5,6]. Thus, both comparisons are not always straightforward, and they can have a positive or negative effect on the development of self-evaluation and identity [1,6,7].…”