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

Abstract

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. 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. (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. 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.