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Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook

Vansh Rastogi, Muskan Prajapati, Amishi Rastogi, Gaurika Mishra · Zenodo (CERN)

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Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Zenodo is currently experiencing slowness and intermittent outages due to heavy automated traffic from bots and AI crawlers. We are aware of the problem, and our team is focused on stabilizing the service. Thank you for your patience. Published May 9, 2026 | Version v1 Publication Open Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook Authors/Creators Vansh Rastogi, Muskan Prajapati, Amishi Rastogi, Gaurika Mishra Description The rapid ascent of Facebook as a dominant social networking platform has had a profound impact on students' social interactions and self-perceptions. This research, anchored in Leon Festinger's Social Comparison Theory (1954), examines the relationship between Facebook usage, social comparison, and self-esteem among students. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 590 students through a structured questionnaire incorporating validated scales such as the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The findings indicate a positive correlation between Facebook usage and social comparison tendencies, consistent with previous studies (Vogel et al., 2014; Bonfanti et al., 2025). Moreover, social comparison is significantly negatively correlated with self-esteem, suggesting that students who frequently engage in comparisons with others tend to report lower self-worth (Irmer et al., 2023). The study also distinguishes between upward and downward comparisons, showing that upward comparisons significantly decrease self-esteem, while downward comparisons have a slight positive effect (Taylor, 2024). Regression and mediation analyses reveal that social comparison partially mediates the relationship between Facebook usage and self-esteem, aligning with findings by Bergagna and Tartaglia (2018). Additionally, the intensity of Facebook usage moderates this relationship, amplifying the negative impact of comparison on self-esteem (Wang et al., 2024). In summary, the results highlight that it is not merely the use of Facebook but the comparison processes it triggers that play a crucial role in shaping students' psychological well-being. The study underscores the need for awareness and interventions to promote healthier social media engagement among students. Files Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook.pdf Files (860.0 kB) Name Size Download all Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook.pdf md5:fb3edaa0675daefbacb39d4544205a47 860.0 kB Preview Download Additional details Dates Submitted 2026-05-09 The widespread use of social networking sites has significantly altered the ways in which students communicate, engage with others, and assess themselves in today's world (Gaur & Gupta, 2023). Facebook, in particular, stands out as a major platform for social interaction, where individuals frequently share personal stories, accomplishments, and carefully selected aspects of their lives. This digital space subjects students to a relentless flow of idealized content, often serving as a benchmark for assessing their own skills and self-worth. Consequently, there is growing concern about the psychological impact of such exposure, especially concerning social comparison and self-esteem (Bonfanti et al., 2025). This study is grounded in Social Comparison Theory, introduced by Leon Festinger in 1954, which suggests that people evaluate themselves by comparing their opinions, abilities, and characteristics with those of others. On Facebook, this comparison process is heightened due to the highly selective and positively biased self-presentations users share. Students, who are at a crucial stage of identity development, are particularly vulnerable to these comparisons. Research indicates that exposure to idealized peer content on social media fosters upward comparison, often resulting in dissatisfaction and diminished self-esteem (Irmer et al., 2023). Empirical studies show a positive correlation between Facebook use and tendencies toward social comparison, as users often measure their achievements, appearance, and social standing against others (Vogel et al., 2014). This comparison process is a significant factor affecting self-esteem, with upward comparisons typically leading to negative psychological effects, while downward comparisons might provide temporary self-enhancement (Taylor, 2024). Moreover, recent research underscores that social comparison mediates the link between social media use and self-esteem, indicating that it is not just the time spent online, but how individuals interpret and assess social information that influences their self-perception (Bergagna & Tartaglia, 2018; Le Blanc-Brillon et al., 2025). Another crucial aspect is the role of social feedback mechanisms like likes, comments, and shares. These features create a measurable system of social validation, which can reinforce comparison behavior and affect self-worth. Students often equate higher engagement with social approval, while lower engagement may lead to feelings of inadequacy (Wang et al., 2024). Additionally, the intensity of Facebook use has been found to moderate the relationship between social comparison and self-esteem, with heavy users experiencing more pronounced negative effects due to repeated exposure to comparison-inducing content (Lițan et al., 2025). Despite the expanding body of research, there is still a need for comprehensive studies that simultaneously explore the direct, mediating, and moderating mechanisms connecting Facebook use, social comparison, and self-esteem, particularly among student populations (Srivastava & Gupta, 2019). Many earlier studies have concentrated on isolated relationships, limiting a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. Therefore, this study seeks to fill this gap by offering an integrated analysis of how Facebook-driven social comparison affects students' self-esteem. The findings are expected to contribute to the broader discussion on digital well-being and provide practical insights for fostering healthier social media use among students. References Alansari, M., Alshammari, F., & Almutairi, S. (2025). Social media usage and mental health outcomes among young adults: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 12, 100543. Appel, H., Gerlach, A. L., & Crusius, J. (2016). The interplay between Facebook use, social comparison, envy, and depression. Current Opinion in Psychology, 9, 44–49. Bergagna, E., & Tartaglia, S. (2018). Self-esteem, social comparison, and Facebook use. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 14(4), 831–845. Bonfanti, A., Vigolo, V., & Yfantidou, G. (2025). Social comparison in digital environments: Effects of social media on self-perception. Telematics and Informatics Reports, 10, 100095. Chandra, S., & Gupta, M. (2024). 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Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(3), JCMC1034. 511 Views 108 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 511 511 Downloads Total downloads 108 108 Data volume Total data volume 99.8 MB 99.8 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords Social comparison, self-esteem, Facebook usage, students, upward comparison, downward comparison, social media, psychological well-being Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20096145 Markdown [![DOI](https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20096145.svg)](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20096145) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20096145.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20096145 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20096145"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20096145.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20096145.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20096145 Resource type Publication Publisher Zenodo Published in Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook, 04(5), 1-7, ISSN: 3107-6696, 2026. Languages English Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created May 9, 2026 Modified May 9, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies

Social Comparison and Self-Esteem among Students on Facebook

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