The protective role of dispositional mindfulness for upward social comparison on social networking sites

A reduction in tendency but not affliction

Authors

  • Malinda Desjarlais Mount Royal University
  • Chantalle Tasker Mount Royal University
  • Claire Mason Mount Royal University

Keywords:

mindfulness, social comparison, self-esteem, social network sites, social media

Abstract

The prevalence of positive self-presentation norms on social networking sites (SNSs) raises concerns about the potential harm to self-esteem resulting from social comparison. Dispositional mindfulness (DM), through its impact on reducing automatic thinking and promoting adaptive responses to negative stimuli, could offer a protective mechanism. To refine our understanding of DM in the context of SNS use, we examined its predictive contribution of social comparisons and its potential to buffer the negative effects of comparisons on self-esteem. In an online survey involving 307 adults (76% female; M = 24-years-old), participants completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), an adapted version of the Iowa Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Two models were assessed using the Hayes PROCESS macros (models 1 and 4) to test: (1) DM as a moderator between social comparison and self-esteem, and (2) the indirect effect of DM on self-esteem through social comparison. Higher DM predicted fewer upward social comparisons and more downward comparisons, which in turn correlated with more positive self-esteem. DM did not moderate the effect of SNS-induced social comparison on self-esteem. These findings suggest that mindfulness does not necessarily eliminate the tendency to socially compare but rather encourages a self-aware, self-kindness approach to present-moment experiences with more self-awareness to reduce the frequency of upward comparison. The findings have implications for the direction of future research and the integration of mindfulness in social media literacy models.

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Published

2024-12-31

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024): Journal of Social Media in Society

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Articles

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