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11-01-2018 | Empirical Research

Social Media Social Comparison of Ability (but not Opinion) Predicts Lower Identity Clarity: Identity Processing Style as a Mediator

Auteurs: Chia-chen Yang, Sean M. Holden, Mollie D. K. Carter

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence | Uitgave 10/2018

Abstract

Social comparison on social media has received increasing attention, but most research has focused on one type of social comparison and its psycho-emotional implications. Little is known about how different types of social comparison influence youth’s identity development. Drawing on the theories of identity processing styles and social comparison, we examined how two different forms of social comparison on social media related to three identity processing styles, which in turn predicted youth’s global self-esteem and identity clarity. We surveyed 219 college freshmen (M_age = 18.29; 74% female) once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Social comparison of ability on social media was related to concurrent diffuse-avoidant identity processing style, which predicted lower identity clarity months later. In contrast, social comparison of opinion on social media did not influence college freshmen’s global self-esteem and identity clarity through identity processing styles. The findings clarified the implications of online social comparison for youth’s identity development.

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Although some scholars emphasize the distinction between self and identity, others suggest that such differentiation is artificial (see a review in Vignoles et al. 2011). In this study, we use the terms of “self” and “identity” interchangeably, both referring to a person’s organized knowledge related to himself or herself (e.g., traits, beliefs, values, worth, etc.; Berzonsky 2011; Campbell et al. 1996; Erikson 1968; Rosenberg et al. 1989).

Identity clarity, identity integration, and self-concept clarity can be considered synonymous, as they primarily vary semantically in terms of the intended breadth of focus (Campbell et al. 1996). These constructs also overlap with identity commitment to a large degree (Crocetti et al. 2016).

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Titel: Social Media Social Comparison of Ability (but not Opinion) Predicts Lower Identity Clarity: Identity Processing Style as a Mediator
Auteurs: Chia-chen Yang
Sean M. Holden
Mollie D. K. Carter
Publicatiedatum: 11-01-2018
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence / Uitgave 10/2018
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0801-6

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