Unlocking Psychological Wellness: How Social Comparison Influences Well-Being and the Crucial Role of Perceived Social Support in Navigating the Digital Landscape of Mental Health

The digital age has transformed communication, with social media platforms playing a central role in connecting individuals worldwide. However, the widespread adoption has also led to concerns over social media addiction and its impact on mental health, particularly in Malaysia. The study investigates how psychological factors, social comparison and social support affect mental health and well-being through social media usage. Adopting a positivist methodology, the study surveyed 400 Malaysian participants, examining the relationships between social media engagement, social comparison, and perceived social support. Structural equation modeling was employed to assess these relationships, ensuring the validity and reliability of the findings. The results show strong positive correlations between perceived social support, social comparison, and perceived well-being. Perceived social support was found to significantly enhance well-being (β = 0.605), indicating that individuals who feel supported are more likely to experience higher levels of mental health. Social comparison also had a positive impact, influencing both perceived social support (β = 0.224) and perceived well-being (β = 0.119). Additionally, social comparison indirectly influenced well-being through perceived social support, with partial mediation demonstrated by a Variance Accounted For of 53.15%. This suggests that while social comparison can affect mental well-being directly, social support plays a key role in buffering its negative effects. The study underscores the importance of promoting social support to enhance mental well-being, especially in the context of social media use. Although the study’s reliance on quantitative methods presents limitations, it suggests that fostering supportive social networks online and offline could mitigate the adverse impacts of social media. Future research could adopt qualitative or mixed methods approaches to further explore users’ experiences and provide deeper insights into the dynamics between social media use and mental health.