The dual mediating effects of social comparison and mindfulness in the relationship between passive social media use and subjective well-being in college students

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of passive social media use on subjective well-being and to identify the dual mediating effects of social comparison and mindfulness on this relationship. Methods An online survey was conducted using scales measuring passive social media use, subjective well-being, social comparison, and mindfulness among 225 university students enrolled in Area B. The data were collected using SPSS statistical program. The collected data were subjected to regression and bootstrapping analyses using SPSS statistical program, and dual mediation effects were calculated using SPSS Macro Model 6. Results First, passive social media use was not significantly related to subjective well-being, and showed a significant positive correlation with social comparison and a significant negative correlation with mindfulness. Second, social comparison significantly mediated the relationship between passive social media use and subjective well-being, while the mediating effect of mindfulness was not significant. Third, the dual mediation effects of passive social media use on subjective well-being through social comparison and mindfulness was significant. Conclusions These findings suggest that passive social media use by college students is followed by the negative effects of social comparison, but that mindfulness mitigates the negative effects of social comparison, thereby inhibiting the decline in subjective well-being.