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September 10, 2025Frontiers in PsychologyOpen Access

The associations between social comparison on social media and young adults’ mental health

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Authors

JBJustine Le Blanc-BrillonJFJean-Simon FortinLLLivia Lafrance

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Overview

Observational analysis reveals social comparison impacts self-esteem and depressive symptoms in young adults, suggesting critical implications for SNS usage.

Key Points

  • Upward social comparisons lower global self-esteem among young adults using Instagram during the pandemic, and may lead to depressive symptoms.
  • Results showed a 6-9% impact of social comparisons on self-esteem and mental health outcomes in young users of social media.
  • Study 1 and Study 2 explored effects of Instagram and Facebook use on self-esteem and depressive symptoms through social comparison mechanisms.
  • Findings suggest that frequent SNS use leads to less extreme upward comparisons, indicating a partial buffer against negative impacts on mental health.

Cite This Study

Blanc-Brillon et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68c1c63e54b1d3bfb60f24cahttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1597241
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Instagram Use and Wellbeing: The Roles of Contingent Self-worth, Upward Social Comparison, and User Motives2026
  2. 2Verification of experience of up-comparison with contrast emotions when using SNS according to the level of intimacy and self-esteem2025
  3. 3Navigating the relationship between social media use and mental health in the digital age2025 · 9 citations
  4. 4The Psychology of Social Comparison on Instagram: Exploring its Impact on Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health in Adolescents2025
  5. 5Subtle momentary effects of social media experiences: an experience sampling study of posting and social comparisons on connectedness and self-esteem2024 · 12 citations