Instagram #Instasad?: Exploring Associations Among Instagram Use, Depressive Symptoms, Negative Social Comparison, and Strangers Followed
Abstract
As the use and influence of social networking continues to grow, researchers have begun to explore its consequences for psychological well-being. Some research suggests that Facebook use can have negative consequences for well-being. Instagram, a photo-sharing social network created in 2010, has particular characteristics that may make users susceptible to negative consequences. This study tested a theoretically grounded moderated meditation model of the association between Instagram use and depressive symptoms through the mechanism of negative social comparison, and moderation by amount of strangers one follows. One hundred and seventeen 18-29 year olds completed online questionnaires containing demographics, frequency of Instagram use, amount of strangers followed on Instagram, the Center for Epidemiological Resources Scale for Depression, and the Social Comparison Rating Scale. Instagram use was marginally positively associated with depressive symptoms, and positive social comparison was significantly negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Amount of strangers followed moderated the associations of Instagram use with social comparison (significantly) and depressive symptoms (marginally), and further significantly moderated the indirect association of Instagram use with depressive symptoms through social comparison. Findings generally suggest that more frequent Instagram use has negative associations for people who follow more strangers, but positive associations for people who follow fewer strangers, with social comparison and depressive symptoms. Implications of negative associations of social networking for people who follow strangers and the need for more research on Instagram use given its increasing popularity are explored.
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Those who use image-based platforms to interact with people they know personally are not at risk for negative consequences, whilst those who view and interact with image-based content from strangers are more likely to engage in negative social comparisons and have depressive symptoms.
“Specifically, it seems that those who use image-based platforms to interact with people they know personally are not at risk for negative consequences, whilst those who view and interact with image-based content from strangers are more likely to engage in negative social comparisons and have depressive symptoms [52].”
From Understanding Links Between Social Media Use, Sleep and Mental Health: Recent Progress and Current Challenges (2019) · cites this paper as [52]
Positive correlations were found between depression and negative social networking interactions.
“positive correlations were found between depression and negative social networking interactions, 34,39,40”
From The Relationship Between Online Social Networking and Depression: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies (2016) · cites this paper as [39]
Negative comparison with others when using Facebook predicted depression via increased rumination even when a general tendency to engage in social comparison was controlled for.
“For example, negative comparison with others when using Facebook was found to predict depression via increased rumination even when a general tendency to engage in social comparison was controlled for.39”
From The Relationship Between Online Social Networking and Depression: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies (2016) · cites this paper as [39]
The effect of social comparison on Facebook is inherently different from and may be more detrimental to psychological wellbeing than social comparison in real life.
“The fact that negative comparison with others when using Facebook was found to predict depression via increased rumination even when a general tendency to engage in social comparison offline was controlled for 39 suggests that the effect of social comparison on Facebook is inherently different and may be more detrimental to psychological wellbeing than social comparison in real life.”
From The Relationship Between Online Social Networking and Depression: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies (2016) · cites this paper as [39]
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- Authors
- Lup, K., Trub, L., & Rosenthal, L.
- Affiliations
- Pace University (US)
- Venue
- Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-05-01
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 247-252
- ISSN
- 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
- 2152-2723
- OpenAlex
- W2263228652
- Cited by
- 520
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 77.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- Instagram use, depressive symptoms, social networking sites, moderated mediation, young adults, psychological well-being
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Jealousy, Loneliness, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Utilization Review, Young Adult, Social Networking, Social Media
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