Heavy usage of the social network Facebook has been linked to various negative mental health consequences, including depression, low self-esteem and jealousy. Now, a new study from the University of Houston has determined the mediating factor leading to depressive symptoms among heavy Facebook users is the psychological phenomenon of "social comparison," according to a Forbes report.
Social comparison is comparing oneself to others, most often to friends' "highlight reels," such as vacation pictures, job promotion or engagement announcement posts. The study asked people questions about their Facebook usage, such as how likely they were to make social comparison and how frequently they experienced depressive symptoms. The results of the study determined people who use Facebook more felt depressed more often, but social comparison was only a mediating factor for men.
The second part of the study asked people how they felt when they viewed their Facebook friends' posts with questions such as, "Today, when I was on Facebook, I felt less confident about what I have achieved compared to other people." Users of both sexes who spent more time on Facebook had more depressive symptoms whether they engaged in upward social comparison — comparing oneself to someone perceived to be more popular, more attractive or successful — or downward comparison — comparing oneself to someone perceived to be less popular, attractive or successful.
"It doesn't mean Facebook causes depression, but that depressed feelings and lots of time on Facebook and comparing oneself to others tend to go hand in hand," said study author and doctoral candidate Mai-Ly Steers.