Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 51 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Psychiatry

The impact of social media use on appearance anxiety among college students —the chain mediating effect of upward social comparison and envy

  • Yongjian Lin1
  • Zhihao Li2
  • Luling Li3
  • Zhen Lv4
  • Tianxiang Song5
  • Xiujie Zhou6
  • Jianchao Ni4,3
6 affiliations
  1. 1School of Arts, Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology
  2. 2School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University
  3. 3School of Marxism, Xiamen University
  4. 4Institute of Education, Xiamen University
  5. 5International School, Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology
  6. 6School of Film Television and Communication, Xiamen University of Technology
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Background: The widespread adoption of digital media has reshaped young people’s aesthetic experiences. The abundance of idealized and digitally enhanced appearance-related content on social media has made appearance anxiety increasingly prevalent among university students. However, the psychological pathways linking social media use to appearance anxiety require systematic examination. This study examined the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety among university students and tested the chain mediating roles of upward social comparison and envy.

Methods: Using convenience sampling, 1,640 university students in China completed the Social Media Use Intensity Scale, Appearance Anxiety Scale, Upward Social Comparison Scale, and Envy Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and PROCESS Model 6 analysis with 5,000 percentile bootstrap samples were used to examine the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety and the chain mediating effects of upward social comparison and envy. All regression equations controlled for gender, educational level, and average daily social media use time.

Results: (1) Social media use was significantly and positively associated with appearance anxiety among university students. (2) Upward social comparison mediated the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety. (3) Envy mediated the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety. (4) Upward social comparison and envy showed a significant chain mediating effect in the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety.

Conclusion: This study provided preliminary cross-sectional evidence for an appearance-anxiety-specific comparison–envy pattern linking social media use to appearance anxiety among university students. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for aesthetic education and media literacy education in higher education within the digital media environment. They may also help guide university students toward more rational aesthetic perceptions, reduced appearance anxiety, and improved physical and mental well-being.

Related

  1. The chain-mediating effect of societal pressure on appearance and body image on fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-lagged panel analysis
    Li Chen, Qiuyan Liang, Dexin Lv +4
    Frontiers in psychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPsychiatry & mental healthEurope PMC
  2. ADHD symptoms and efficient learning strategies in college students: the parallel mediating roles of motivation and mind-wandering.
    Li Yang, Ximing Wang, Anni Liu +3
    Frontiers in psychologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPsychiatry & mental healthEurope PMC
  3. Adverse childhood experiences and cyber aggression among college students: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of physical exercise.
    Luyao Xiang, Hao Gou, Qunqun Sun +2
    Frontiers in psychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BYFull text2 citedPsychiatry & mental healthEurope PMC
  4. Psychological adjustment under dual pressures: a bibliometric analysis of the impact of academic stress and employment anxiety on college students’ mental health
    Yuanyuan Gong, Xiaoyu Zhang, Dacan Li +1
    Frontiers in PsychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Psychiatry & mental healthCrossref
  5. Academic stress and internet gaming addiction in college students: a moderated mediation model with anxiety as mediator and peer support as moderator
    Jingjing Li, Bao Liu, Yu Wang
    Frontiers in PsychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthCrossrefEurope PMCEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{lin2026impact,
  title = {{The impact of social media use on appearance anxiety among college students —the chain mediating effect of upward social comparison and envy}},
  author = {Yongjian Lin and Zhihao Li and Luling Li and Zhen Lv and Tianxiang Song and Xiujie Zhou and Jianchao Ni},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1962984},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1962984/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The impact of social media use on appearance anxiety among college students —the chain mediating effect of upward social comparison and envy
AU  - Yongjian Lin
AU  - Zhihao Li
AU  - Luling Li
AU  - Zhen Lv
AU  - Tianxiang Song
AU  - Xiujie Zhou
AU  - Jianchao Ni
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/15
JO  - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO  - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1962984
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1962984/full
AB  - Background: The widespread adoption of digital media has reshaped young people’s aesthetic experiences. The abundance of idealized and digitally enhanced appearance-related content on social media has made appearance anxiety increasingly prevalent among university students. However, the psychological pathways linking social media use to appearance anxiety require systematic examination. This study examined the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety among university students and tested the chain mediating roles of upward social comparison and envy.  Methods: Using convenience sampling, 1,640 university students in China completed the Social Media Use Intensity Scale, Appearance Anxiety Scale, Upward Social Comparison Scale, and Envy Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and PROCESS Model 6 analysis with 5,000 percentile bootstrap samples were used to examine the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety and the chain mediating effects of upward social comparison and envy. All regression equations controlled for gender, educational level, and average daily social media use time.  Results: (1) Social media use was significantly and positively associated with appearance anxiety among university students. (2) Upward social comparison mediated the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety. (3) Envy mediated the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety. (4) Upward social comparison and envy showed a significant chain mediating effect in the relationship between social media use and appearance anxiety.  Conclusion: This study provided preliminary cross-sectional evidence for an appearance-anxiety-specific comparison–envy pattern linking social media use to appearance anxiety among university students. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for aesthetic education and media literacy education in higher education within the digital media environment. They may also help guide university students toward more rational aesthetic perceptions, reduced appearance anxiety, and improved physical and mental well-being.
SN  - 1664-0640
ER  -