scholarly journals Asymmetric Social Comparison and Life Satisfaction in Social Networks

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Olivos ◽  
Pablo Olivos-Jara ◽  
Magdalena Browne
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Social ◽  
Upward Comparison ◽  
Downward Comparison ◽  
Positive Effect

The aim of this study is to understand the effect of asymmetric social comparison on subjective well-being, and how it differs due to reciprocity. Our approach considers the social network of individuals as a local reference group. We tested competing hypotheses on negative and positive effects of comparison with worse-off (downward) and better-off (upward) targets with a representative sample of 1,596 Chileans over the age of 18. The findings support that life satisfaction is influenced by social comparison. By considering the social network as a reference group, the positive effect of downward comparison and the negative effect of upward comparison are confirmed. Upward comparison seems to be more substantial than downward comparison. Additionally, the positive effect of downward comparison decreases slightly with a reciprocal exchange of support between respondents and targets. The application of social network analysis opens a path to understanding the mechanisms underlying social comparison processes.

scholarly journals IMPLICATIONS OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS FOR WOMEN'S WELL-BEING IN LATE LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S213-S213
Author(s):  
Heather Fuller ◽  
Heather Fuller ◽  
Masahiro Toyama
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
The Social ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Lower Life Satisfaction

Abstract Social support is well documented as promoting women’s well-being across the lifespan, yet implications vary depending on the source and type of support. The present study examined whether relationships with family, friends, and neighbors (both satisfaction with and number in social network) affected well-being over two years. Midwestern women (N=188, mean age = 80) were sampled from two waves of the Social Integration and Aging Study (2013, 2015). Hierarchical regression models indicated that satisfaction with friends predicted better life satisfaction, but satisfaction with family and neighbors did not predict well-being. In contrast, number of neighbors in social network predicted lower life satisfaction and greater stress, while number of family and friends were not associated with well-being. Moreover, differential effects emerged between older and younger women. Findings highlight unique facets of older women’s social relationships and suggest that future research and interventions addressing age and the source of support are warranted.

scholarly journals Segregation and Life Satisfaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Montero ◽  
Miguel Vargas ◽  
Diego Vásquez
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Residential Segregation ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Socioeconomic Segregation ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Municipal Level

Our aim is to cast light on socioeconomic residential segregation effects on life satisfaction (LS). In order to test our hypothesis, we use survey data from Chile (Casen) for the years 2011 and 2013. We use the Duncan Index to measure segregation based on income at the municipality level for 324 municipalities. LS is obtained from the CASEN survey, which considers a question about self-reported well-being. Segregation’s impact upon LS is not clear at first glance. On one hand, there is evidence telling that segregation’s consequences are negative due to the spatial concentration of poverty and all the woes related to it. On the other hand, segregation would have positive effects because people may feel stress, unhappiness, and alienation when comparing themselves to better-off households. Additionally, there is previous evidence regarding the fact that people prefer to neighbor people of a similar socioeconomic background. Hence, an empirical test is needed. In order to implement it, we should deal with two problems, first, the survey limited statistical significance at the municipal level, hence we use the small area estimation (SAE) methodology to improve the estimations’ statistic properties, and second, the double causality between segregation and LS; to deal with the latter, we include lagged LS as a regressor. Our findings indicate that socioeconomic segregation has a positive effect on LS. This result is robust to different econometric specifications.

How Social Comparison on Instagram Affects Well-Being. Perspectives from a Study Conducted During the Lockdown

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Delia Cristina Balaban ◽  
Dorin Francisc Spoaller
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Upward Comparison ◽  
Downward Comparison

"During the Spring of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries ordered lockdowns. The limitations of movement contributed to the rise of social media activity. The present research focused on how the active use of Instagram had an impact on well-being during the first lockdown in Romania. Aiming to explore how active Instagram use contributes to users' self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and loneliness during an unprecedented situation of a lockdown, we conducted an online survey in April 2020 on young adults (N=411) in Romania. Findings showed that actively using Instagram during the lockdown did not have a significant direct impact on self-esteem and satisfaction with life, but significantly decreased loneliness. Upward comparison of Instagram active users contributed to the increase in self-esteem but decreased the values of satisfaction with life and increased loneliness. The downward comparison had no significant impact on self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and loneliness. Keywords: social media, well-being, Instagram, social comparison, COVID-19 pandemic. "

Rank Status and Happiness in India: A Panel Ordered Probit Estimation of the Effect of Ordinal Relative Comparison on Well-being

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Lakshmanasamy ◽  
K. Maya
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordered Probit ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Comparison Income ◽  
Average Reference ◽  
The Rich

Most often the social comparison or relative income hypothesis has been used as an explanation for the lack of systematic relationship between income and happiness, using the ordered probit regression method. The identification of relevant reference group and the estimation of the differential effects of comparison income have been controversial. To overcome these twin issues, this paper uses an ordinal comparison income approach based on rich/poor dichotomy and rank income. The rank income of an individual is defined as his relative position in the income distribution within the reference group and the average income of the reference group is used to define the rich/poor classification. The differential effects of ordinal incomes across life satisfaction distribution is estimated by the panel fixed effects ordered profit regression model using the WVS data for India. The estimated results show that ordinal income comparison, rather than cardinal average reference income, is a better predictor of life satisfaction levels. Raising income level is relatively important for less satisfied people while increasing rank status is important for highly satisfied people in India.

Comparing the social networks of service users with long term mental health needs living in community with those in a general adult in-patient unit

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110175
Author(s):  
Roberto Rusca ◽  
Ike-Foster Onwuchekwa ◽  
Catherine Kinane ◽  
Douglas MacInnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
The Social

Background: Relationships are vital to recovery however, there is uncertainty whether users have different types of social networks in different mental health settings and how these networks may impact on users’ wellbeing. Aims: To compare the social networks of people with long-term mental illness in the community with those of people in a general adult in-patient unit. Method: A sample of general adult in-patients with enduring mental health problems, aged between 18 and 65, was compared with a similar sample attending a general adult psychiatric clinic. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and information about participants’ social networks. Participants also completed the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to examine well-being and the Significant Others Scale to explore their social network support. Results: The study recruited 53 participants (25 living in the community and 28 current in-patients) with 339 named as important members of their social networks. Both groups recorded low numbers in their social networks though the community sample had a significantly greater number of social contacts (7.4 vs. 5.4), more monthly contacts with members of their network and significantly higher levels of social media use. The in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Conclusions: People with serious and enduring mental health problems living in the community had a significantly greater number of people in their social network than those who were in-patients while the in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Recommendations for future work have been made.

scholarly journals Loodus tuleb tagasi: delfiinid ja saurused. Libauudistest, photoshop-muistenditest ja meemidest koroonakarantiini ajal

Mäetagused ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 167-184
Author(s):  
Eda Kalmre ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fake News ◽  
The Social ◽  
Truth Value ◽  
Positive Effect

The article follows the narrative trend initiated by the social media posts and fake news during the first months of the corona quarantine, which claims that the decrease of contamination due to the quarantine has a positive effect on the environment and nature recovery. The author describes the context of the topic and follows the changes in the rhetoric through different genres, discussing the ways in which a picture can tell a truthful story. What is the relation between the context, truth, and rhetoric? This material spread globally, yet it was also readily “translated” into the Estonian context, and – what is very characteristic of the entire pandemic material – when approaching this material, truthful and fabricated texts, photos, and videos were combined. From the folkloristic point of view, these rumours in the form of fake news, first presented in the function of a tall tale and further following the sliding truth scale of legends, constitute a part of coping strategies, so-called crisis humour, yet, on the other hand, also a belief story presenting positive imagery, which surrounds the mainly apocalyptically perceived pandemic period and interprets the human existence on a wider scale. Even if these fake news and memes have no truth value, they communicate an idea – nature recovers – and definitely offer hope and a feeling of well-being.

scholarly journals LIFE ON DISPLAY: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE YOUR ACTIONS ON THE SOCIAL NETWORK

2021 ◽  
Vol 6(72) (4) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
A. E. Starchenko ◽  
M. V. Semina
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Accounts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

Social networks have emerged relatively recently in human life, but have already become an integral part of it. Companies tell about themselves, their activities, innovations, promotions and events in their profiles. This helps increase audience coverage, tell more about your brand, products, services. People in personal accounts have the opportunity to share their lives and creativity through photos, videos and texts. Now it is not necessary to receive higher education to become an operator, director or actor whose talent is recognized by society. It is enough to start a page on the social network and start sharing your knowledge and creativity. To find out why people post photos, videos and write texts on their social networks, a pilot sociological study was carried out. The method of deep interview with active users of social networks was chosen to carry out the study. The interview allowed getting unique information, to learn the opinion of users about social networks, the impact of the new way of communication on their life, to identify the reasons why users start and maintain profiles. The respondents were 20 users of social networks between the ages of 19 and 22. Interviewees have profiles on the most popular Instagram and Vkontakte networks. As a result of the analysis of the interview, a tendency was revealed to differ in the perception of users of their actions on the social network and similar actions of other users. Their content is perceived by them as opportunities to be in sight, as a resource to form their social status and an element of influence on their reference group. And the same content published by others is perceived as boasting.

Household finances and social comparison: Determinants of financial well-being in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Aisyah Amatul Ghina ◽  
Subiakto Sukarno
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Socioeconomic And Demographic Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

To achieve a vision of sustainable financial well-being (FWB) in Indonesia, generating more knowledge in household behavior and FWB is pivotal. This study assesses the impact of household financial position and social comparison on individual FWB in Indonesia. Using the latest wave of Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) dataset, subjective FWB assessed by questions on subjective prosperity, perceived current standard of living adequacy and perceived future standard of living. The empirical analysis shows that net wealth and total assets are also essential determinants and positively related to FWB along with income. On the contrary, though it is only found significant on the perceived current standard of living adequacy, the total debt level has a negative effect on FWB. The findings also confirm that socioeconomic and demographic factors also significantly affect FWB (e.g., being female and more educated has a positive effect on FWB). Furthermore, it also found that relative financial position (i.e., social comparison) has important roles in determining individuals' FWB level. Being above the reference group's average for a particular financial measure (i.e., income and total assets) has a positive effect on an individual's FWB. The findings of this study suggest for promoting financial education in the national school system starting senior high school to increase the level of financial well-being among young adult and people with lower educational attainment.JEL Classification C31; D14; I31

Social Comparison Before, During, and After the Competition

2019 ◽  
pp. 105-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Garcia ◽  
Zachary A. Reese ◽  
Avishalom Tor
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Competitive Behavior ◽  
The Social ◽  
Upward Comparison ◽  
Entry Decisions

This chapter provides an overview of the interplay between social comparison and competition before, during, and after the competition. Competition is defined broadly to include an act or process of competition, explicit or implicit, linked to basic social comparison processes. Before the competition, the authors consider the lessons of the social comparison literature on motives, individual differences, cultural and social norms, and competition entry decisions. The authors then review relevant findings on the role of individual factors (personal and relational) as well as situational factors that affect motivation and competitive behavior during the competition. Finally, the chapter examines the social comparison literature on downward comparison, upward comparison, and competition re-entry decisions after the competition.

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