The Role of Social Media Social Comparison in Self-Esteem and Emotion Regulation: A Study on Italian High School Students

This study investigates the role of social media social comparison in self-esteem and emotion regulation on Italian high school students, aged from 14 to 19 who participated in two online sessions, completing anonymous questionnaires. Participants completed validated scales, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form and Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure. The results reveal a negative correlation between social media social comparison and self-esteem, with ability-based comparisons having a stronger impact than opinion based ones. A positive correlation was found between social media social comparison and emotion regulation difficulties, with ability-based comparison showing a stronger link to emotional dysregulation. Additionally, self-esteem was negatively associated with difficulties in emotion regulation, with a stronger effect in females across all subscales. Regarding physical self-esteem, the findings confirmed a negative relationship with social media social comparison, particularly for ability-based comparisons, except for one subscale where no significant association was observed. These findings underscore the potential impact of social media social comparison on adolescents. Given the limitations of self-reported data and sample attrition, future research should employ diversified methodologies and further explore the role of social media social comparison in adolescent body image and regulation of emotions.