Social comparison and maladaptive emotion regulation are associated with poorer mental health in social media users.

Women spent more time online and reported higher levels of social comparison and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies than men.

• Sample was nationally representative with 1,707 adults aged 16-75 (M = 44.5, SD = 14.8), 50.40% females.
• Gender differences were described as 'consistent' across measures of social comparison and maladaptive regulation strategies.
• Objective screen-time verification was used alongside self-report questionnaires.
• Findings were identified through correlation analyses, MANCOVA, and path analysis.

Generation Z was the most vulnerable cohort, scoring highest on social comparison, maladaptive strategies, and mental health symptoms.

• Generation Z scored highest on social comparison, rumination, and catastrophizing.
• Generation Z reported the highest symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger among generational cohorts.
• Boomers consistently reported the lowest levels across these measures.
• Cohort analyses were conducted across the full age range of 16-75 years.

Anxiety, depression, and anger were more strongly associated with social media time when higher use co-occurred with greater social comparison and maladaptive emotion regulation.

• Path analysis was used to examine associations between social media use, social comparison, maladaptive emotion regulation, and mental health outcomes.
• Measures included validated self-report questionnaires for anxiety and depression symptomatology, anger reactions and displaced aggression, social comparison, and maladaptive emotion regulation.
• The association between screen time and mental health outcomes was moderated by the presence of social comparison and maladaptive regulation strategies.
• Results suggest quality of engagement may be more relevant than sheer time online.

Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, including rumination and catastrophizing, were identified as key psychological processes linking social media use to poorer mental health.

• Maladaptive strategies were measured using validated self-report questionnaires.
• Rumination and catastrophizing were specifically identified as elevated in Generation Z.
• These strategies were examined alongside social comparison as mediating or moderating psychological processes.
• Findings are interpreted in the context of emerging work on digital emotion regulation.

The study used objective screen-time verification in addition to self-report measures in a nationally representative adult sample.

• Sample size was 1,707 adults aged 16-75.
• Objective screen-time data complemented validated self-report questionnaires.
• Analytical methods included correlation analyses, MANCOVA, and path analysis.
• The sample was nationally representative with a mean age of 44.5 (SD = 14.8).