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Background research links online social comparison to altered self-perception in both domains. Levels of self-esteem and body-esteem were measured with self-report questionnaires before and after participants viewed Instagram images designed to prompt upward, downward, or no comparison. Downward comparison increased both self-esteem and body-esteem; upward comparison reduced body-esteem. Findings support social comparison theory and inform mental-health focused education and support.","Research  \nSocial comparison on Instagram, and its relationship with self‑esteem and body‑esteem  \nJacqui Taylor1 · Georgina Armes1  \nReceived: 15 November 2023 / Accepted: 10 September 2024  \n© The Author(s) 2024 OPEN  \nAbstract  \nBackground Previous research has shown that online social comparison can affect perceptions of self-esteem and body image.  \nPurpose of the study This study focussed on social comparison on Instagram and its relationship with levels of self-esteem and body-esteem.  \nMaterials and methods Levels of self-esteem and body-esteem were measured using self-report questionnaires, before and after viewing Instagram images eliciting upward, downward, or no comparison.  \nResults Statistical analysis showed self-esteem and body-esteem scores significantly increased after downward comparison, with no change in scores following a neutral condition. Body-esteem scores significantly decreased after upward comparison, whilst self-esteem scores did not. Support for social comparison theory is provided.  \nConclusions Future research and implications are discussed, such as educating young people about posting and viewing of overly positive images on social media. Social media organisations could provide access to resources which provide advice about mental health issues and support for individuals wanting to discuss body image issues. Future research could potentially establish if participants’ views about eating change after engaging in differing levels of social comparison on Instagram.  \nKeywords Social comparison · Instagram · Self-esteem · Body-esteem · Eating disorder · Social media  \n1 Introduction  \nThe use of social media has rapidly increased in recent years, with 71% of young adults reporting using Instagram [1], and internet users globally spending an average of 151 min on social media daily in 2022 [2]. Social media use increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with users seeking increased social support throughout lockdowns and social distancing [3], and the number of females following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram significantly increasing [4], resulting in social networking sites such as Instagram becoming indispensable to many people [5]. Social media has many benefits, including enhancing communication and social connection [6] and access to information [7] . However, it has also been associated with negative outcomes, including increased loneliness and social isolation [8], crucially in adolescents [9] .  \nSupplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at [https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-](https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-)[ ](https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-)[00241-3.](00241-3.)  \n* Jacqui Taylor, [jtaylor@bournemouth.ac.uk](jtaylor@bournemouth.ac.uk); Georgina Armes, [s5205095@bournemouth.ac.uk |](s5205095@bournemouth.ac.uk |1Psychology Department)[1](s5205095@bournemouth.ac.uk |1Psychology Department)[Psychology Department](s5205095@bournemouth.ac.uk |1Psychology Department), Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, UK.  \nDiscover Psychology  \n(2024) 4:126  \n| [https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00241-3](https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00241-3)  \nHooper et al. [10] reported increased levels of anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction among adolescents who were frequent users of social media. Passive social media use has also been shown to negatively affect wellbeing [11], potentially due to individuals using sites such as Instagram to share only socially desirable information about themselves, allowing them to present a better, more controlled self-esteem image to others online [12], known as positive self-esteem presentation [13]. By sharing only positive information online, the user’s reality is often not reflected [14] . For example, it has been noted how, to conform with existing beauty norms, many photos uploaded to social media are edited, with women editing photos more frequently than men [15]. Social media sites also facilitate ","cbCaieuBJcswYueL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieuBJcswYueL","pdf",700213,3,1,13,"English","en",105,"# Abstract\n# Introduction\n## Self-esteem and body-esteem","[{\"question\":\"What was the study’s main purpose regarding Instagram use?\",\"answer\":\"To investigate how social comparison on Instagram relates to levels of self-esteem and body-esteem.\"},{\"question\":\"How were self-esteem and body-esteem measured in the study?\",\"answer\":\"Using self-report questionnaires administered before and after participants viewed Instagram images designed to trigger upward, downward, or no comparison.\"},{\"question\":\"What effects did downward and upward comparisons have on the results?\",\"answer\":\"Downward comparison significantly increased both self-esteem and body-esteem, while upward comparison significantly decreased body-esteem; self-esteem did not change after upward comparison.\"}]",1783458708,33,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":28},"social-comparison-on-instagram-and-its-relationship-with-self-esteem-and-body-esteem","",{"@graph":36,"@context":85},[37,53,68],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,50],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",{"item":51,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":52},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/social-comparison-on-instagram-and-its-relationship-with-self-esteem-and-body-esteem/45369/",4,{"url":51,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":41,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-15","2026-07-07",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What was the study’s main purpose regarding Instagram use?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"To investigate how social comparison on Instagram relates to levels of self-esteem and body-esteem.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"How were self-esteem and body-esteem measured in the study?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"Using self-report questionnaires administered before and after participants viewed Instagram images designed to trigger upward, downward, or no comparison.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"What effects did downward and upward comparisons have on the results?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"Downward comparison significantly increased both self-esteem and body-esteem, while upward comparison significantly decreased body-esteem; self-esteem did not change after upward comparison.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":51,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":51},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":25},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,101,105,110,115,120,123,128,131,135],{"id":21,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":47,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},30,"research-report",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":127},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":126,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":130},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":132,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":133,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":134},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":136,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":137,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":138},19,"General","general"]