Emotion regulation and the mediating effect of social comparison on passive social media use and depressive symptoms

• Main Author: Canlas, Paula Francesca R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Social media; Mental health; Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/43; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1040/viewcontent/2023_Canlas_Emotion_regulation_and_the_mediating_effect_of_social_comparison_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Social media use has been rapidly growing, as has research on its effects on mental health. This study in particular sought to determine if Passive Social Media Use (PSMU) leads to more severe depressive symptoms through Upward Social Comparison (USC), and if Cognitive Reappraisal (CR) moderates the effect of this social comparison on depressive symptoms. A comprehensive survey was distributed to 500 participants (ages 25-34 years old), most of whom happen to be highly educated. Results of statistical analyses showed that PSMU is indeed related to greater depressive symptoms when USC is high. However, the analyses also revealed that PSMU leads to lower USC and higher downward social comparison, ultimately resulting in lower depressive symptoms. Cognitive reappraisal is also related to social comparison and fewer depressive symptoms, but does not moderate the two. The results imply that people from this demographic may feel increasingly threatened as they view more social media posts, and thus turn to DSC in order to cope, which then lowers their depressive symptoms.