Adolescence is an important stage of human development that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, during which physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social changes take place rapidly. In this context, young people are particularly vulnerable to social pressure and compare themselves to others, often leading to feelings of anxiety, shame, and body alienation. According to researchers, social comparison can play a significant role in shaping adolescent identity and self-esteem. This process has been studied extensively, but it remains unclear how such comparisons affect their mental health and well-being. As a result, the present study aimed to investigate whether social comparison promotes anxiety, shame, and body alienation in adolescents. The study involved a sample of adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years who completed questionnaires measuring their level of anxiety, shame, and body dissatisfaction. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was exposed to images of models and celebrities that were perceived as attractive or successful, while the other group viewed neutral images. After viewing the images, participants answered questions about their own appearance, achievements, and successes. Results showed that adolescents who compared themselves to idealized media representations reported higher levels of anxiety, shame, and body dissatisfaction than those who did not. These findings suggest that social comparison may be linked to negative self-evaluations and could contribute to the development of psychological disorders.
Answer:
Adolescence marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, during which physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social changes take place rapidly. In this context, young people are particularly vulnerable to social pressure and compare themselves to others, often leading to feelings of anxiety, shame, and body alienation. Researchers have studied this process extensively but still do not know how such comparisons affect mental health and well-being. This study aimed to investigate whether social comparison promotes anxiety, shame, and body alienation in adolescents. Adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years completed questionnaires measuring their level of anxiety, shame, and body dissatisfaction. They were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was exposed to images of models and celebrities perceived as attractive or successful while the other viewed neutral images. After viewing the images, participants answered questions about their own appearance, achievements, and successes. Results showed that adolescents comparing themselves to idealized media representations reported higher levels of anxiety, shame, and body dissatisfaction than those who did not. These findings suggest a link between social comparison and negative self-evaluations, potentially contributing to psychological disorders.
How does social comparison foster anxiety, shame, and body alienation in adolescents?
Social comparison is a cognitive process by which individuals evaluate their perception of themselves relative to others in order to determine self-worth. It is common for adolescents to engage in social comparisons, as they are undergoing significant physical, emotional, and social changes during this period of development.