CUP Undergraduate Research
Date of Award
Spring 4-1-2018
Document Type
Thesis
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Department
Psychology
Degree Name
Psychology, BA
First Advisor
Reed Mueller, Ph.D.
Abstract
Today, social media platforms continue to grow. Users of these platforms are also spending extended periods of time on them. Researchers in the literature are finding that social media use can have detrimental effects on a user’s wellbeing. This study is a replication with extension of a 2015 study by Lup, Trub, and Rosenthal. This study uses a moderated mediation model to explore the association between Instagram use and depressive symptoms through negative social comparison and moderated by amount of strangers followed and type of Instagram use. One hundred and forty two participants between the ages of 18-29 completed anonymous online questionnaires. This questionnaire measured demographic information, frequency of Instagram use, amount of strangers followed, social comparison, depression symptomology, and type of use. Instagram use mediated by social comparison and moderated by type of Instagram use was a significant indicator of depressive symptoms.