Social Media Scrolling and Psychological Well-being of Students: The Moderating Role of Social Comparison
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19684668Keywords:
Social Media Usage Social Comparison Psychological Wellbeing StudentsAbstract
Purpose: The current research aims to examine social comparison role as a moderator in the association between social media use and psychological well-being of students.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research design based on cross-sectional study and convenience sampling was used to select the participants. The sample size was (n=241) people aged between 18 and 29 years. The standardized measures were used: The Social Comparison Scale (SCS), the Social Media Use Questionnaire (SMUQ), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB).
Findings: Moderation analysis revealed that social comparison had a significant impact on the relationship between social media use and well-being, where students with higher levels of comparison had more adverse psychological outcomes. On the other hand, individuals who had lower comparison orientation were found to have comparatively better well-being even when they had comparable levels of social media use.
Implications: The moderating effect of social comparison on the relationship between social media use and psychological well-being is important. The use of interventions targeting the decrease of maladaptive comparison tendencies and encouraging healthy use of social media can enhance the mental health outcomes of students.
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