Social comparison processes and academic achievement: The dependence of the development of self-evaluations on friends' performance.

In second through fourth grade, children's own achievement was a weaker predictor of their academic self-concept when they had high-achieving friends.

“in second through fourth grade, children's own achievement was found to be a weaker predictor of their academic self-concept when they had high-achieving friends (Guay et al., 1999).”

In elementary school, social comparison effects on academic self-concept have been found only when comparisons were to reciprocated (as opposed to non-reciprocated) friends.

“a couple of studies have found social comparison effects in elementary school to only affect academic self-concept when comparisons were to reciprocated (as opposed to non-reciprocated) friends (e.g., Altermatt & Pomerantz, 2003;Guay et al., 1999).”

There is some evidence that youths' own academic skill level moderates the effect of peers' academic skills on youths' academic self-concept.

“there is some evidence that youths' own academic skill level moderates the effect of peers' academic skills on youths' academic self-concept (Altermatt & Pomerantz, 2005;Guay et al., 1999).”

Affiliation with high-achieving peers may provoke social comparisons that undermine a youth's academic self-concept if a contrast is perceived between her own skills and her peers' skills.

“affiliation with high-achieving peers may provoke social comparisons that undermine a youths' academic self-concept if a contrast is perceived between her own skills and her peers' skills (Altermatt & Pomerantz, 2005;Dweck, 2002;Guay et al., 1999).”

Sharing and disclosure within children's mutual friendships make them the most psychologically meaningful and accessible target for social comparison.

“the sharing and disclosure within children's mutual friendships make them the most psychologically meaningful and accessible target for social comparison”

Past research on social comparison has typically focused on comparisons to friends or comparisons to classmates in general.

“Past research on social comparison has typically either focused on comparisons to friends (e.g., Altermatt & Pomerantz, 2003;Guay et al., 1999) or comparisons to classmates in general (e.g., Blanton et al., 1999;Marsh, Kong, & Hau, 2000).”