scholarly journals The Moderating Role of Social Network Size on Social Media Use and Self-Esteem: An Evolutionary Mismatch Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Lim ◽  
Clement Lau ◽  
Norman P. Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Evolutionary Mismatch ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
The Relationship

Existing meta-analyses have shown that the relationship between social media use and self-esteem is negative, but at very small effect sizes, suggesting the presence of moderators that change the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. Employing principles from social comparison and evolutionary mismatch theories, we propose that the social network sizes one has on social media play a key role in the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. In our study (N = 123), we showed that social media use was negatively related to self-esteem, but only when their social network size was within an evolutionarily familiar level. Social media use was not related to self-esteem when people’s social networks were at evolutionarily novel sizes. The data supported both social comparison and evolutionary mismatch theories and elucidated the small effect size found for the relationship between social media use and self-esteem in current literature. More critically, the findings of this study highlight the need to consider evolutionarily novel stimuli that are present on social media to better understand the behaviors of people in this social environment.

scholarly journals Negative influences of Facebook use through the lens of network analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien Faelens ◽  
Kristof Hoorelbeke ◽  
Eiko I Fried ◽  
Rudi de Raedt ◽  
Ernst H. W. Koster
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Facebook Use

Various recent studies suggest a negative association between Facebook use and mental health. Yet, empirical evidence for this association is mixed, raising the question under which conditions Facebook use is related to negative outcomes, such as decreased well-being. Our study addresses this question by investigating the relationship between Facebook use, rumination, depressive, anxiety-, and stress-related symptoms, taking into account potential key variables such as social comparison, contingent self-esteem, and global self-esteem. In a first study, we explored the unique relations between these constructs using state-of-the-art network analysis. Subsequently, we conducted a preregistered replication study. In both studies, social comparison and self-esteem held a central position in the network, connecting social media use with indicators of psychopathology. These findings highlight the prominent role of social comparison and self-esteem in the context of social media use and well-being. Longitudinal and experimental studies will be required to further investigate these relationships.

Pre-sleep Cognitive Influence of Night-time Social Media Use and Social Comparison Behaviour in Young Women

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon McNee ◽  
Heather Woods
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Social Media Engagement ◽  
Social Comparison Orientation ◽  
The Relationship

Night-time social media use in young people has received significant attention from the international media, governments, and policymakers due to its published associations with increased depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. However - as not all young people engage with social media in the same way - there are calls for a shift of research focus away from suggested negative impacts of social media use and towards nuanced understanding of social media engagement style. As a result, individual differences in social media engagement must be appreciated when considering the relationship between social media use and wellbeing. The current study presents pilot data which highlights an association between social comparison orientation, night-time social media use, mental wellbeing, and sleep in female users of Facebook and Instagram (N = 60). Social comparison orientation, rumination tendency, sleep health, and night-time social media use were examined using online questionnaire measures. Social comparison orientation was found to be positively associated with night-time social media use and rumination tendency. In addition, rumination was highlighted as a significant mediator of the relationship between social comparison behaviour and poor sleep – suggesting that the behaviours we engage in online may influence sleep through a cognitive pathway. Our findings contribute to a growing body of research which demonstrates how the nature of social media interactions can impact wellbeing with implications for the design of integrated social media literacy and sleep interventions.

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