Social Media Comparison, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction in Indian Emerging Adults: A Correlational Study

This study examined relationships among social comparison on social media, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in Indian emerging adults. The study used a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design. Researchers collected data from 147 participants using non-probability convenience sampling and an online questionnaire. Researchers assessed social comparison with an adapted Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM), self-esteem with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and life satisfaction with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The instruments demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .80, .80, and .86, respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant negative relationships between social comparison and self-esteem (r = -.52, p < .001) and between social comparison and life satisfaction (r = -.33, p < .001). Self-esteem was positively associated with life satisfaction (r = .49, p < .001). All three null hypotheses were rejected. These findings indicate that social comparison orientation is associated with self-esteem and life satisfaction among Indian emerging adults. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference.