Vulnerable Narcissism in Social Networking Sites: The Role of Upward and Downward Social Comparisons

Fanchang Kong; Meiru Wang; Xingjie Zhang; Xiaoyao Li; Xiaojun Sun

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711909

Vulnerable Narcissism in Social Networking Sites: The Role of Upward and Downward Social Comparisons

Front Psychol. 2021 Sep 14:12:711909. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711909. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Fanchang Kong¹, Meiru Wang¹, Xingjie Zhang¹, Xiaoyao Li¹, Xiaojun Sun¹

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Social networking sites (SNSs) have provided a new platform for people to present their narcissism. The objective of the current study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms between active and passive SNS use and vulnerable narcissism among college students. In achieving this, the study based its method on the media effect and social comparative theory and recruited 529 participants to complete the Surveillance Use Scale, Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure, and Hypersensitivity Narcissistic Scale. The results showed that active and passive SNS use were positively related to upward and downward social comparisons. Active and passive SNS use also indirectly predicted vulnerable narcissism through the parallel mediation of upward and downward social comparisons. This study also revealed the vital role of social comparison in the association between SNS use and vulnerable narcissism.

Keywords: parallel mediate; social comparison; social media; social networking sites; vulnerable narcissism.