How Social Media Social Comparison Influences Chinese Adolescents' Flourishing

The Mediation Effects of Identity Processing Styles

Bibliographic Data

ID6417871
AuthorsSijia Guo (0000-0001-6754-6559, College of Public Administration and Humanities Dalian Maritime University Dalian China), Junan Lei (0009-0002-1786-0632, School of Philosophy and Sociology Jilin University Changchun China), Fan Zhang (0000-0002-3643-018X, School of Philosophy and Sociology Jilin University Changchun China)
Year2024
Volume30
Issue4
Pages950-959
Publication date2024-09-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChild & Family Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1356-7500 • E-ISSN: 1365-2206
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/cfs.13232
OpenAlexW4402693048
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited66

The pervasive use of social media among adolescents has been linked to various aspects of their development, encompassing both beneficial and detrimental effects. However, the precise mechanisms through which social media influences adolescent development remain underexplored. This study seeks to elucidate the associations between social media use and the flourishing of Chinese adolescents, employing a strength‐based perspective that integrates social comparison theory and identity theory. In this research, 786 Chinese adolescents aged 11–19 years participated by completing self‐report questionnaires. Findings suggest that (1) neither social comparisons of ability nor opinions on social media exhibit any significant correlation with the flourishing of Chinese adolescents; (2) a diffuse‐avoidant identity processing style is inversely related to adolescent flourishing, whereas normative and informational identity processing styles are predictive of Chinese adolescents' flourishing; and (3) informational identity processing style positively mediates the relationship between social comparisons of opinion on social media and the flourishing of Chinese adolescents. These results underscore the importance of factors such as social comparison tendencies and personal identity processing styles in influencing adolescent well‐being in the context of social media use. Furthermore, the discussion delves into the implications of these findings for fostering adolescent flourishing

Aesthetics · Art · Developmental psychology · Flourishing · Identity (music · Mediation · Social media · Social science · Sociology · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

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