Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

The Link Between Social Media, Anxiety, and Depression in College Students

Victoria Geisler, Laurie Leonard, Alison Runge, Cheri Simmons, and Ava Wirsig

Department of Communication, Missouri State University

Com 210: Communication Research Methods

Dr. Varava

May 10, 2021

SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

With anxiety and depression taking center stage during the relatively tumultuous last

year, there is a question that arises in the minds of many. What causes circumstantial anxiety and

depression in people, specifically young adults? Researchers have been targeting the effects of

social media use on young adults for the last ten years (Tandoc et al., 2014). According to the

CDC, young adults from 18-24 substantially suffer from anxiety and depression as they enter

their college years (Tandoc et al., 2014). The question arises whether or not the high level of

media consumption that a college-aged student intake is related to these high levels of anxiety

and depression

There have been many arguments made over social media and the amount of time that

young adults spend on these applications in correlation to the rise of anxiety and depression in

young adults. Social comparison theory can help to explain why increased social media use

might lead to increased anxiety and depression. The more individuals engage in social media

consumption, the more chance they can compare themselves to others. When they compare

themselves to others, they may feel bad about their own lives. As this topic has drawn attention

from many researchers and is a growing issue for young adults, further evaluation is necessary.

Thus, this study will examine how often young adults use social media and their overall mental

stability and health through the lens of social comparison theory.

Literature Review

Social Comparison Theory

This theory states that social comparison relates to individuals evaluating other people's

lives and incorporating those aspects into their attitudes and behaviors (Suls et al., 2002). For

example, a person looking through a celebrity's Instagram will notice their glamorous lifestyle

and try to integrate that celebrity's styles into their own identity because they find them to be
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

appealing. Perceptions of others can influence a person's desires, self-concept, and overall well-

being (Suls et al., 2002). However, the constant comparison of oneself to another can be

discouraging. In most cases, people compare their abilities to someone of a higher capacity,

making it hard for them to achieve their desired results (Matz & Hinsz, 2000). In turn, rates of

depression and anxiety are rising due to the constant comparison of oneself. Social comparison

theory argues that individuals exposed to others in the media that they view as better themselves

will start to experience lower self-worth (Kohler et al., 2020). It is essential to understand this

theory in terms of our hypothesis, and it is also crucial to understand the variables and concepts

that guide our view and study.

Individuals who spend more time on social media are more likely to engage in social

comparison and therefore have a worse view of self. Comparison levels refer to the amount

individuals compare or measure themselves against the attributes or situations of other

individuals. Engaging in social comparison can have a negative mental effect on individuals.

Previous research has found that college students consistently exposed to other individuals'

photos on Instagram reported having deceased positive moods and increased anxiety (Kohler et

al., 2020). These results indicate that social comparison is related to anxiety and depression.

Time, frequency, and platform use are measures used to hypothesized and contribute to college

students' levels of anxiety and depression and their engagements in social comparison.

Spending more time on social media and interacting with multiple platforms will allow an

individual to engage in more social comparisons related to higher levels of anxiety and

depression. This hypothesis is consistent with the findings of other studies such as De Los Santos

et al. (2019), which concluded that an individual who has more social media platforms is more

likely to experience negative thoughts about themselves. However, there is less known about the
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

relationship between multiplatform usage and social comparison concerning anxiety and

depression.

Social Media Use

The amount of time individuals dedicate to social media allows increased opportunities

for social comparisons. A study of body image effectively used time (duration in hours) and

browsing activity on Instagram as an additional component to investigate body image

satisfaction (Chae, 2018). This study connected the amount of time spent on social media to a

decreased body image satisfaction. Generally, increased time on social media networks

correlates with increased dissatisfaction. In addition to frequency, it is also vital to study

multiplatform use. Studies examining the frequency of use of multiple forms of social media

platforms gave researchers a more unambiguous indication of participant's behaviors. According

to previous research, this method allowed researchers to analyze emotions across three different

social media groups and allowed researchers to conduct frequency analysis studies (De Los

Santos et al., 2019). The research concluded that an individual who has more social media

platforms and uses them more frequently is more likely to suffer from social comparison and, in

turn, feel poorly about themselves (De Los Santos et al., 2019).

Mental Disorders related to Social Media Usage

Social media usage problems refer to mental issues created from using social media

platforms; most people do not recognize the adverse effects of high social media usage on an

individual. These effects manifest as anxiety and depression. According to the Mayo Clinic,

generalized anxiety is when an individual displays symptoms of persistent worry, overthinking,

and the inability to relax or difficulty concentrating (Tandoc et al., 2014). Anxiety affects over

40 million adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, depression
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

is a sad mood that lasts for a long time and interferes with everyday functioning (Tandoc et al.,

2014). The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that 16.2 million adults have at least

one depressive episode a year. Previous research has concluded that social anxiety is related to

lower quality of life and can lead to depression, panic attacks, behavioral issues, and even suicide

(Seligman et al., 2018). Similarly, individuals who suffer from depression experience difficulty

in day-to-day function and suffer from a form of impairment (Seligman et al., 2018). These

findings show that if increased social media usage causes higher levels of anxiety and

depression, it can also contribute to a lower quality of life and cause increased behavioral and

social issues in adults with a high media intake.

Social Comparison, Social Media Use, and Depression and Anxiety

Heavy social media usage by college-aged students and plays a significant part in their

day-to-day lives. This heavy usage has brought into question whether or not social media and

social comparison affect an individual's identity and mental capacity throughout their lifetime

(Yang et al., 2018). Social Comparison Theory suggests that when people encounter others

whom they perceive to be better themselves, it affects their feelings of self-worth (Kohler et al.,

2020). When college-aged students consume a high media level, they experience increased

exposure to other people's photos, tweets, and lives. This exposure makes it more likely for these

individuals to engage in social comparison and perceive others' lives better than their own

(Kohler et al., 2020). A potential problem can occur because college-aged students consume a

high level of social media and are in their prime developmental years and work on shaping their

own identities. In other words, individuals will be more likely to participate in social comparison

and experience higher levels of anxiety and depression.

SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Previous research regarding the types of posts, photos, or edits provokes an individual to

participate in social comparison (Zimmer-Gembeck et al., 2021). The study showed that posting

selfies were related to better self-satisfaction, but investment in other photos is related to worse

self-satisfaction. Concerning this, young adults reported a high level of concern about their

appearance and worried about not conforming to societal ideals (Zimmer-Gembeck et al., 2021).

This study focused on social comparison with body image and appearance and used a primarily

white female test group. We hope to further expand on this area of research by testing college

students who range from age 18-26 and have a wide variety of gender and ethnicity.

Since this study found that social media use was associated with negative body image, it is

reasonable to conclude the social media users will also be associated with increased depression

and anxiety. Fardouly, Magson, and Johnco (2018) studied parental control over time on social

media to social comparison. The study found that more parental control over time spent on social

media was associated with better mental health (Fardouly, 2018). This study suggests that less

time spent on social media results in an overall better standard of mental health. However, the

study does not test adolescents outside of parental control, such as college-aged individuals.

Scholars have begun to assess the effects that social media has on a person's mental

health. They have studied the relationship between the amount of time spent on social media and

the levels of anxiety or depression a person feels in response to this time (Kross et al., 2013).

While this is a good start, additional research is necessary conducted in this area. Past studies

have focused on the amount of time an individual spends on one particular platform, mainly

Instagram and Facebook. They then study the number of hours an individual spends on these

platforms and compare this to the amount of anxiety and depression a person feels after getting

off the platform (Zuo, 2014). Zuo (2014) studied the number of social comparisons an individual
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

makes but used paper printouts of Facebook timelines and profiles. This study did suggest that

people who use Facebook more make more social comparisons and, in turn, suffer from more

mental illnesses. However, without modeling an authentic social media experience and

supplementing paper printouts, the results may be inaccurate. In our study, we will consider the

number of social media platforms a person subscribed to and the time spent on each forum to

understand better if an individual's levels of anxiety or depression are directly related to social

media social comparison.

H1: College students who consume a higher level of social media are more likely to engage in

social comparison, which would increase their chances of suffering from anxiety and depression

than individuals who consume a low level of media.

Methods

Participants

Eighty-six completed surveys were used for analysis. Female participants comprised

74.4% of the sample and 24.4% were male. All of the respondents were college students, 89.6%

of respondents were in our desired age range of 17-25. The study included 9 responses (10.9%)

from individuals outside of this age range, but who were still enrolled and participating in

college courses. The majority of participants were White 84.9%, 1.2% of respondents were

Black, 1.2% of respondents were Asian, 3.5% were Latino, 4.7% were not specified and 4.7%

were multiethnic. The majority of participants, 34.9%, had accounts on 6 social media platforms:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and TikTok. 20.9% of participants had five

accounts, 16.3% had 4 accounts, 18.6% had three accounts. 3.5% had two accounts, and 4.7%

had one account.

SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Procedure

Participants were recruited through social media. Participants completed online surveys

at their convenience. After providing consent, they answered questions about anxiety,

depression, social comparison, platform usage, and demographics. Surveys were collected from

April 10th – April 26th, 2021. A total of 102 surveys were collected, and 6 were removed from the

sample because respondents had not completed the full survey. Ten responses were not included

in the survey because they were open and unfinished on the surveys closing date.

Measures

Anxiety. Seven items were used to measure anxiety adapted from Spitzer et al., (2006):

“Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you felt nervous anxious or on edge?” and “Over the last

2 weeks, how often have you became easily annoyed or irritable?” These questions, and other

related questions were used to measure anxiety levels in participants. Participants chose 0 never

bothered by these problems, 1 bothered by these problems several days, 2 bothered by these

problems over half the days, and 3 bothered by these problems nearly every day. These items

were averaged into an index of anxiety levels in relation to social comparison (= .85, M=2.37,

SD=.75).

Depression. Nine items were used to measure depression adapted from Kroenke et al.,

(2001): “Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you had little interest or pleasure in doing

things?” and “Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you had trouble concentrating on things,

such as reading the newspaper or watching television?” These questions and other related

questions were used to measure depression levels in participants. Participants chose 0 never

bothered by these problems, 1 bothered by these problems several days, 2 bothered by these

problems over half the days, and 3 bothered by these problems nearly every day. These items
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

were averaged into an index of depression levels in relation to social comparison (= .86,

M=1.99, SD=.68).

Social Comparison. Eleven items were used to measure social comparison adapted from

Bunks & Gibbons (2006): “I often compare myself with others with respect to what I have

accomplished in life” and “I often compare how my loved ones (boy or girlfriend, family

members, etc.) are doing with how others are doing”. These questions and other related questions

were used to measure social comparison levels in participants. Participants chose 1 I strongly

disagree, 2 I disagree, 3 I neither agree nor disagree, 4 I agree, and 5 I strongly agree. These

items were averaged into an index of social comparison levels (= .78, M=2.40, SD=.50).

Social Media Use. Nine items were used to measure social media usage adapted from

Rosen et al., (2013): “How often do you check your Facebook page or other social networks?”

and “How often do you click “Like” to a posting, photo, etc.?” These questions and others

related questions were used to measure social media usage in participants. Participants chose 1

never, 2 once a month, 3 several times a month, 4 once a week, 5 several times a week, 6 once a

day, 7 several times a day, 8 once an hour, 9 several times an hour, and 10 all the time. These

items were averaged into an index of social media usage in relation to social comparison levels

(= .87, M=5.52, SD=1.49).

Results

A correlation test conducted between social comparison and social media usage showed

that the two variables were not strongly correlated r (82) = -.074, p=. 503.The results suggest

that there is no significant relationship between social comparison and anxiety levels. The p

value is .503, which is greater than .05. This means that the correlation between the two variables

is not significant and there is no correlation between social comparison and social media usage.
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

A correlation test conducted between social comparison and anxiety showed that the two

variables were not strongly correlated, r (83) = -.034, p =.760. The results suggest that there is no

significant relationship between social comparison and anxiety levels. The p value is .760, which

is significantly greater than .05. Overall, there was no correlation between social comparison and

anxiety levels. Increased levels of social comparison did not lead to higher levels of anxiety.

A correlation test conducted between social comparison and depression showed that the

two variables were not strongly correlated r (83) = -.131, p= .233. The results suggest that there

is no significant relationship between social comparison and anxiety levels. The p value is .233,

which is greater than .05, this means that the correlation between the two variables is not

significant and there is no correlation between social comparison and depression. Increased

levels of social comparison did not lead to higher levels of depression.

The results suggest that the hypothesis was not supported.

Discussion

The current study examined if high social media usage and social comparison led to

anxiety and depression in college-aged students. Social comparison theory states that when

individuals are exposed to others in the media they see as better than themselves, they have a

lower view of their self-worth (Kohler et al., 2020). The study hypothesized that college

students, who consume a high level of media, would be more likely to participate in social

comparison and suffer from anxiety and depression.

Contrary to the hypothesized association, we found that social comparison had little

correlation to social media usage, anxiety, and depression. The initial hypothesis stated that as

college students aged 17-25 participated in high social media usage and high social comparison,
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

they would suffer from higher levels of anxiety and depression. Each correlation test conducted

between social comparison, anxiety, depression, and social media usage showed a negative

correlation between each variable. This negative correlation suggests that instead of high social

comparison resulting in high levels of anxiety and depression that as one variable increases, the

other decreases. The results also suggested that the variables had no significant relationship and

were not correlated.

The insignificant and negative correlation is explained using outside factors that

influenced the participants. The study was conducted, and participant's responses were recorded

from April 10th – April 26th, 2021. With that being said, the study took place in the middle of

the global COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic created many stressors for college-aged

students, which included but were not limited to online courses, finances, living situations,

health, and quarantine-related issues. The stressors that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic

created a mental health crisis in young adults. Anxiety, depression, suicide, and other mental

health issues rose substantially in individuals aged 17-25. This suggests that anxiety and

depression in college-aged students were more closely linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic and

had less relation to social media and the levels of social comparison that took place.

The COVID-19 Pandemic impacted mental health and changed the way that social media

was used. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, social media timelines were the main facet where

people shared the most unique parts of their lives. For example, people posted pictures and other

media of vacations, going out, and beautified photos of themselves. The COVID-19 Pandemic

ceased most domestic and international travel and shut down many entertainment hubs such as

restaurants and event centers. This changed social media platforms and eliminated most of the

content that provokes feelings of social comparison. Most social media users were living parallel
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

lives and were stuck in one place due to quarantine. With that being said, individuals were not

exposed to others in the media they saw as better than themselves and were instead viewing their

lives as parallel to the individuals they saw on social media. This suggests that the results found

in the study had an insignificant correlation because the way people were using social media

during the COVID-19 Pandemic changed and eliminated the typical means for social

comparison. The global, COVID-19 pandemic created many unique circumstances that

influenced the participant sample and the study. Everyone is feeling more depressed and anxious,

so at this time, it is harder to link those variables with social comparison.

Implications of Results

The current study found that social comparison has no significant correlation to social

media usage, anxiety, or depression. There are a few possibilities for how these results can be

manifested in practice. The results suggest that everyone feels more anxiety and depression

during this time, and it is harder to link those variables with social comparison. The study also

suggested that the global COVID-19 Pandemic created more sources of anxiety and depression

and changed how individuals are viewing social media and participating in social comparison.

These results challenge the common thinking that social media is a negative factor in our lives

and causes significant problems such as anxiety and depression. For example, social media

decreased anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic because it connected us to

family, friends, and other individuals we were restricted from seeing. Social media also acted to

reduce stress and became a form of relaxation and security when all other parts of life became so

unknown. With that being said, society should stop labeling social media and social comparison

as the enemy and start using it as a tool to foster relationships and discussion. Making the

discussion of social comparison theory and social media usage part of everyday discourse would
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

help create a better relationship between individuals, social media, and the people exposed to

social media platforms. Overall, a positive discourse and discussion may help make social

comparison and social media less explicit and more accepted in our society.

Social comparison theory states that social comparison relates to individuals evaluating

other people's lives and incorporating those aspects into their attitudes and behaviors (Suls et al.,

2002). It has been suggested that social media creates a hub for social comparison because

individuals are constantly exposed to people that they perceive as better or more worthy. The

current study hypothesized that college students would be heavily affected by social comparison

and have higher levels of anxiety and depression. Similarly, previous research has found that

college students who were continuously exposed to other individuals' photos on Instagram

reported having deceased positive moods and increased anxiety (Kohler et al., 2020). The current

study reported no correlation between the variables. The original definition of the theory states

that individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others to

reduce uncertainty. The current study observes a phenomenon outside of these conditions

because it measured participants who were already facing extreme uncertainty due to the

COVID-19 Pandemic. The current study suggests that individuals facing uncertainty in all

aspects of their lives will not result in social comparison to reduce that uncertainty. The results

suggest that social comparison is not as prevalent as other factors contributing to a person's

mental health. With that being said, future studies should look at other ways that individuals

reduce uncertainty and the positive effects that social comparison and social media may have on

a sample.
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Limitations of Study

This study has potential limitations. The first limitation in this study is that the sample

was primarily white and female. This limits the study because these demographics often get the

most representation in the media, which would make them less susceptible to social comparison.

Another limitation within the study is that a correlation test was run between social comparison

and social media usage, social comparison and anxiety, and social comparison and depression.

To further extend the study results, the second set of correlation tests should have been run

between social media usage and anxiety and social media usage and depression. These tests

would have given more insight into the relationship between the variables. This also would have

further extended the relationship between social comparison and social media usage by

explaining whether anxiety and depression are more closely related to social comparison or

social media in general.

Future Directions for Social Comparison Research

As researchers continue to study social media in the future, and its link to anxiety and

depression, several factors should be considered moving forward. Since social media can be used

more frequently or less frequently at any time, it would be essential to continue to survey

individuals during different times in a set time frame. For example, researchers should reevaluate

participants every 6 months to see if there is fluctuation in their daily social media habits.

Expanding the ages slightly is also a factor to include and continue to test. The age range could

affect the results significantly. Future studies should consider using a sample of high school

students, elementary students, and adults who are out of college to see if these age groups

participate in more or less social comparison and if it effects development and future social

media usage.
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

The current study concluded that social comparison was not correlated to social media

use, anxiety, or depression. Future studies should consider the ways that people reduce

uncertainty in relation to social comparison and study whether or not individuals view social

media usage as helpful or hurtful. If participants are viewing social media as a tool rather than a

harmful entity, then the social comparison theory may need to be reevaluated and changed.

The current study was conducted during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the future, when

such circumstances do not exist, the survey could be done again, and results could vary. In

addition to the COVID-19 Pandemic, various other factors such as social injustices, elections,

health issues, and economic issues could affect participants answers. When those issues aren’t as

heavily covered in the media it would be of value to survey a group of participants again.
SOCIAL MEDIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

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