Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Appearance-Based Social Comparison on Social Media: The Roles of Depressive Symptoms and Mindfulness

Social media increases opportunities for appearance-based social comparison, which may negatively impact body image and affective well-being. However, limited research has addressed how individual characteristics, such as depressive symptoms and dispositional mindfulness, influence susceptibility to these effects. Guided by the Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model (DSMM), the present study examined a framework connecting depressive symptoms, facets of mindfulness, appearance-based social comparison, body image positivity, and affective well-being. This study explored depressive symptoms and acting with awareness in relation to appearance-based social comparison. Additionally, it evaluated whether nonjudgment moderates the association between appearance-based social comparison and body image positivity. A total of 341 undergraduate students at a Canadian university participated in a cross-sectional online survey. In line with the DSMM, depressive symptoms and acting with awareness were indirectly associated with affective well-being. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with increased appearance-based social comparison, which was associated with lower body image positivity and, in turn, poorer affective well-being. Greater acting with awareness was related to reduced appearance-based social comparison. Nonjudgment did not moderate the relationship between appearance-based social comparison and body image positivity. These findings enhance understanding of individual differences in appearance-based social comparison on social media and suggest directions for future research on interventions that promote healthier social media experiences.