Focus on Self-Presentation on Social Media across Sociodemographic Variables, Lifestyles, and Personalities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland (), Turi Reiten Finserås, Børge Sivertsen, Ian Colman, Randi Træland Hella and Jens Christoffer Skogen
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Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland: Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
Turi Reiten Finserås: Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
Børge Sivertsen: Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
Ian Colman: School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Randi Træland Hella: Department of Work, Section for Children, Families and Disabled, Social Services and Housing, 5014 Bergen, Norway
Jens Christoffer Skogen: Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Upward social comparison and aspects of self-presentation on social media such as feedback-seeking and strategic self-presentation may represent risk factors for experiencing negative mental health effects of social media use. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess how adolescents differ in upward social comparison and aspects of self-presentation on social media and whether these differences are linked to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle, or personality. The study was based on cross-sectional data from the “LifeOnSoMe” study performed in Bergen, Norway, including 2023 senior high school pupils (response rate 54%, mean age 17.4, 44% boys). Nine potentially relevant items were assessed using factor analysis, and latent class analysis was used to identify latent classes with distinct patterns of responses across seven retained items. The retained items converged into one factor, called “focus on self-presentation”. We identified three groups of adolescents with a low, intermediate, and high focus on self-presentation. Associations between identified latent classes and covariates were assessed using regression analyses. Being a girl, higher extraversion, lower emotional stability, more frequent alcohol consumption, and having tried tobacco were associated with membership in the high-focus group. These results suggest some characteristics that are associated with a higher focus on self-presentation and that could inform targeted interventions.

Keywords: social media; adolescent; self-presentation; social comparison; feedback-seeking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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