dc.rights.license | CC-BY-NC-ND | |
dc.contributor.advisor | Timmeren, T. van | |
dc.contributor.author | Dörfling, Diana | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-21T00:03:06Z | |
dc.date.available | 2025-08-21T00:03:06Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/49840 | |
dc.description.abstract | Social media use has been increasingly linked to reduced mental well-being, with upward social
comparisons playing a key role in this relationship by triggering negative emotional responses
such as envy and depressive feelings, collectively referred to as upward contrastive emotions
(UCE). This study experimentally investigated whether a short social media detox could reduce
UCE and improve mental well-being, and whether these effects were moderated by individuals’
ability-based social comparison orientation (SCOA). A total of 69 participants aged 18–25 were
randomly assigned to a 7-day detox (n = 34) or control group (n = 35). Participants completed
pre- and post-intervention surveys measuring UCE, mental well-being, and SCOA. Results
showed that the detox significantly reduced UCE, especially for individuals high in SCOA.
Moderated mediation analysis revealed that reductions in UCE partially explained improvements
in mental well-being, but only among participants with average or high SCOA. These findings
provide experimental evidence that taking a short break from social media can interrupt harmful
emotional comparison cycles and enhance well-being, particularly for individuals prone to
ability-based comparisons. | |
dc.description.sponsorship | Utrecht University | |
dc.language.iso | EN | |
dc.subject | This thesis investigates whether taking a short break from social media (a 7-day detox) can reduce negative emotional responses triggered by upward social comparisons, specifically envy and depressive feelings (called upward contrastive emotions or UCE), and improve mental well-being. It also explores whether people who are more prone to comparing their abilities to others (high in ability-based social comparison orientation, SCOA) are more affected by the detox. | |
dc.title | Feeling Less Envious and Depressed After Logging Off: How Comparison Tendencies Shape Emotional Relief and Indirect Well-Being Gains | |
dc.type.content | Master Thesis | |
dc.rights.accessrights | Open Access | |
dc.subject.keywords | social media detox; upward contrastive emotions; social comparison orientation; mental well-being, envy; depressive feelings | |
dc.subject.courseuu | Social, Health and Organisational Psychology | |
dc.thesis.id | 52222 | |