Abstract
Previous research has found that excessive social network site (SNS) use is associated with anxiety and depression, but the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether these mechanisms vary across patterns of SNS use. This study examined the relationship between habitual Instagram use and emotional distress symptoms in adolescents and young adults, with social comparison orientation (SCO) as a mediator and Instagram use profiles as a moderator. A survey was conducted with a sample of 309 Instagram users aged 14–21 years. Mediation analyses were performed to assess whether SCO mediated the relationship between Instagram use and emotional distress symptoms. As hypothesized, SCO was found to mediate the association between habitual Instagram use and both depression and anxiety. Additionally, 4 distinct Instagram use profiles were identified, which significantly moderated these mediations. Specifically, the mediation effect was significant for familiar light users but not for heavy users (in relation to depression) and extreme users (in relation to anxiety). These findings suggest that an increased orientation toward social comparisons is an important mechanism by which habitual Instagram use exacerbates mental health problems in adolescents and young adults and that patterns of Instagram use influence this effect.
