When Every Day is a High School Reunion: Social Media Comparisons and Self-Esteem

Abstract

Although past research has shown that social comparisons made through social media contribute to negative outcomes, little is known about the nature of these comparisons (domains, direction, and extremity), variables that determine comparison outcomes (post valence, perceiver’s self-esteem), and how these comparisons differ from those made in other contexts (e.g., text messages, face-to-face interactions). In four studies (N=798), we provide the first comprehensive analysis of how individuals make and respond to social comparisons on social media, using comparisons made in real-time while browsing news feeds (Study 1), experimenter-generated comparisons (Study 2), and comparisons made on social media vs. in other contexts (Studies 3-4). More frequent and more extreme upward comparisons resulted in immediate declines in self-evaluations as well as cumulative negative effects on individuals’ state self-esteem, mood, and life satisfaction after a social media browsing session. Moreover, downward and lateral comparisons occurred less frequently and did little to mitigate upward comparisons’ negative effects. Furthermore, low self-esteem individuals were particularly vulnerable to making more frequent and more extreme upward comparisons on social media, which in turn threatened their already-lower self-evaluations. Finally, social media comparisons resulted in greater declines in self-evaluation than those made in other contexts. Together, these studies provide the first insights into the cumulative impact of multiple comparisons, clarify the role of self-esteem in online comparison processes, and demonstrate how the characteristics and impact of comparisons on social media differ from those made in other contexts.

Emotional Intelligence Profiles and Self-Esteem/Self-Concept: An Analysis of Relationships in Gifted Students

“…People with low self-esteem seem more permeable to situational influences and blind feedback [153]. Again, networks magnify these effects [154].…”

Committed to succeed: Commitment determines reactions to upward relationship comparisons

“…Thus, exposure to examples of highly successful relationships may be distressing, highlighting the less-than-perfect nature of one's own relationship, especially if there is a large discrepancy between one's own relationship and the superior one (cf. Midgley, 2019;Patrick, Neighbors, & Knee, 2004). Consistent with this possibility, past research has found that exposure to popular romantic media is associated with lower relationship satisfaction (Shapiro & Kroeger, 1991), suggesting that idealized relationship examples may threaten individuals' perceptions of their own partnership.…”

“…In particular, comparisons to vastly superior relationships may be problematic because such comparisons may increase individuals' relationship expectations without increasing the motivation necessary to reach these expectations, resulting in less satisfaction and greater instability. Indeed, recent research indicates that upward comparison targets who are much more superior are less motivating and more likely to elicit stronger negative responses (Diel & Hofmann, 2019;Midgley, 2019;Patrick et al, 2004). Thus, when possible, couples should choose relationships that are slightly superior (i.e., less upward) because these comparisons are more motivating (Diel & Hoffman, 2019) and are less likely to elicit strong negative responses (Midgley, 2019).…”

“…Indeed, recent research indicates that upward comparison targets who are much more superior are less motivating and more likely to elicit stronger negative responses (Diel & Hofmann, 2019;Midgley, 2019;Patrick et al, 2004). Thus, when possible, couples should choose relationships that are slightly superior (i.e., less upward) because these comparisons are more motivating (Diel & Hoffman, 2019) and are less likely to elicit strong negative responses (Midgley, 2019). Indeed, our studies found that this smaller discrepancy between the superior relationship and the individual's relationship did partially explain why highly committed individuals felt more satisfied and optimistic after the upward comparison.…”

“…Because highly committed individuals' relationships may be objectively better than those of moderately committed individuals, they may see less discrepancy between their own relationship and the superior one, resulting in a less threatening comparison (cf. Midgley, 2019;Patrick et al, 2004) and more positive responses. Assimilation should be facilitated when the comparison is less extreme, making it easier for high commitment individuals to imagine that their relationship will become like that of the superior couple.…”