Impact of Social Comparison on Self-Efficacy & Emotional Regulation among Peers

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between social comparison, self-efficacy, and emotional regulation. Social comparison, a cognitive process involves individuals assessing their abilities, attributes, and emotions relative to those of others. This research aims to study how social comparison influences both self-efficacy beliefs and emotional regulation strategies. The data was collected through quantitative surveys. It is important to note that Convenience Sampling was used, as a result of which we sampled a group of various young adults using tools such as Social Comparison Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – 16 item version (DERS-16). Quantitative data analysis utilizes statistical tools like the correlation analysis and regression modelling to look for the relations between the social comparison, self-efficacy, and emotional regulation. The study demonstrates that social comparison can significantly influence the self-efficacy beliefs of individuals, while also influencing perceived competence and self-co ownership in various domains. In addition, the research further discusses the complex links between social comparison and emotional regulation demonstrating the use of problematic or adaptive strategies of emotion regulation. However, the immediate reactions to upward social comparison may cause individuals to want to better their skills and get social support, while downward social comparison might just alleviate distress and hinder development. The relevance of these discoveries is emphasized and the key directions for this process are discussed, including supporting healthy comparison and constructing adaptive self-efficacy beliefs and emotion regulation strategies.