Social Comparison, Digital Distraction, And Depressive Symptoms Among Social Media Users

Abstract

The widespread use of social media has intensified concern regarding its possible effects on mental health, particularly depressive symptoms. Although existing studies have often focused on the amount of time spent on social media, less attention has been given to the behavioral processes through which digital engagement may influence emotional wellbeing. This study examines the relationship between social comparison, digital distraction, and depressive symptoms among social media users. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using secondary data. After excluding non-users, the final analytical sample consisted of 478 active social media users. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The findings show that both social comparison and digital distraction are positively associated with depressive symptoms. However, digital distraction emerged as the stronger predictor in the regression model. Although depressive symptoms were higher among respondents who spent more time on social media, time spent did not remain statistically significant after behavioral variables were included. These results suggest that the emotional consequences of social media use are shaped more by the ways users engage with platforms than by duration of use alone. The study highlights the importance of examining specific digital behaviors when assessing mental health outcomes and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how social media engagement relates to depressive symptoms.