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Liang S, Zhang T, Li J, Zhang Y, Tang Y, Bi L, Hu F, Yuan X. Negative Emotions Will Be Welcomed: The Effect of Upward Comparison on Counterhedonic Consumption. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:374. [PMID: 38785865 PMCID: PMC11118864 DOI: 10.3390/bs14050374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Upward comparisons are prevalent in life and have a significant influence on consumer psychology and subsequent behavior. Previous research examined the effects of upward comparisons on consumption behavior, mainly focusing on behavior that evokes positive emotions (e.g., donation behavior, sustainable consumption) or behavior that evokes negative emotions (e.g., impulsive consumption, compulsive consumption) and less on behavior that evokes both negative emotions and positive emotions (i.e., counterhedonic consumption). This research examined the effect of upward comparisons on counterhedonic consumption. Five studies (N = 1111) demonstrated that upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) leads to counterhedonic consumption, and this effect is mediated by relative deprivation (Studies 2 and 3). In addition, this research showed that the comparison targets moderate the effects of upward comparisons on counterhedonic consumption. Specifically, when the comparison target is a friend, an upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) leads to counterhedonic consumption. When the comparison target is a stranger, an upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) has no significant influence on counterhedonic consumption (Study 5). Our findings extend the research on upward comparisons, relative deprivation, and counterhedonic consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichang Liang
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Tingting Zhang
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Jingyi Li
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Yiwei Zhang
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Yu Tang
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Lehua Bi
- School of Economics, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
| | - Feng Hu
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
| | - Xueying Yuan
- School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (S.L.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (F.H.); (X.Y.)
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Li Y, Wang S. "Comparisons are Odious"? - Exploring the Dual Effect of Upward Social Comparison on Workplace Coping Behaviors of Temporary Agency Workers. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4251-4265. [PMID: 37873061 PMCID: PMC10590561 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s425946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporary agency workers are becoming increasingly critical as a supplementary workforce within enterprises, inevitably leading upward social comparisons with permanent employees. However, existing research pays little attention to this phenomenon, which cannot provide theoretical guidance for the management of temporary agency workers. To fill this gap, our study utilizes the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion to construct a dual-path moderated mediation model, examining how upward social comparison is associated with positive and negative behaviors through two distinct forms of envy. Through the questionnaire survey, data is collected from 882 temporary agency workers in a Chinese temporary staffing firm. The results reveal that upward social comparison is associated with both benign and malicious envy, which in turn respectively relate to informal workplace learning and social undermining behavior. Additionally, psychological availability moderates the relationship between upward social comparison and envy, such that when psychological availability is higher (vs lower), the positive effect of upward social comparison on benign envy is stronger and the positive effect of upward social comparison on malicious envy is weaker. Moreover, psychological availability further moderates the indirect effect of upward social comparison on employee behavior. When psychological availability is higher (vs lower), the positive indirect effect of upward social comparison on informal workplace learning via benign envy is stronger, whereas the positive indirect effect of upward social comparison on social undermining via malicious envy is weaker. Our study enriches the theoretical research perspective of upward social comparison and provides insights for managing temporary agency workers. Our study is the first to explore the dual behavioral choices of upward social comparison of temporary agency workers and apply the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion to social comparison. The results indicate that organizations can improve the psychological availability of temporary agency workers to stimulate learning behavior and reduce social undermining behavior to achieve a win-win situation between temporary agency workers and organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siyu Wang
- School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Carraturo F, Di Perna T, Giannicola V, Nacchia MA, Pepe M, Muzii B, Bottone M, Sperandeo R, Bochicchio V, Maldonato NM, Scandurra C. Envy, Social Comparison, and Depression on Social Networking Sites: A Systematic Review. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:364-376. [PMID: 36826211 PMCID: PMC9955439 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13020027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to review the evidence for the reciprocal relationship between envy and social comparison (SC) on social networking sites (SNSs) and depression. We searched PsychINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science from January 2012 to November 2022, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 9 articles met our inclusion criteria. In all articles reviewed, a simple correlation was found between SC on SNSs, envy, and depression. Three cross-sectional studies successfully tested a model with envy as a mediator between SNSs and depression. The moderating role of additional variables such as self-efficacy, neuroticism, SC orientation, marital quality, and friendship type was also evident. The only two studies that were suitable to determine direction found that depression acted as a predictor rather than an outcome of SC and envy, and therefore depression might be a relevant risk factor for the negative emotional consequences of SNSs use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Carraturo
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Tiziana Di Perna
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Viviana Giannicola
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Alfonso Nacchia
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Pepe
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Benedetta Muzii
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario Bottone
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Raffaele Sperandeo
- School of Integrated Gestalt Psychotherapy—SIPGI, 80058 Torre Annunziata, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bochicchio
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Nelson Mauro Maldonato
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Cristiano Scandurra
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-3341523239
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Gu C, Liu S, Chen S. The effect of trait mindfulness on social media rumination: Upward social comparison as a moderated mediator. Front Psychol 2022; 13:931572. [PMID: 36267062 PMCID: PMC9577495 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.931572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Social media rumination means that social media users are inclined to worry about their posts, relevant situational elements, and ramifications of the posts on a regular basis, and it is one of the main reasons why people's use of social media is linked to unfavorable mental health and interpersonal results. Rumination is antagonistic to mindfulness, which entails paying attention on purpose and without judgment, and mindfulness appears to be useful in reducing rumination. However, in the context of social media, the nature of the relationship between rumination and mindfulness has gained less attention. The current research study indicates that trait mindfulness, upward social comparison (USC), and self-esteem are implicated in social media rumination (SMR). However, no research study has synthesized the findings into one model. Therefore, the current research study aims to explore the relationship between trait mindfulness and SMR, the mediating effect of USC, and the moderating effect of self-esteem. The model was tested using AMOS and the PROCESS macro in SPSS with bootstrapping. According to the findings, SC appears to have a moderated mediator effect on the relationship between trait mindfulness and SMR. Specifically, individuals with high mindfulness trait do not necessarily have less USC. Self-esteem moderated the above mediation. The beneficial effect of trait mindfulness on social media rumination is explained in depth in this study.
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Travel-Related Influencer Content on Instagram: How Social Media Fuels Wanderlust and How to Mitigate the Effect. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14020855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tremendous efforts will be required in the coming decades to limit the harmful effects of climate change. This includes travel behavior, which not only has a significant impact on climate but also affects the perceived justice and trust necessary to manage the transition to net zero successfully. Technologies such as social media can promote behavioral change; unfortunately, also for the negative. Drawing on social comparison theory, social identity theory, and the theory of planned behavior, this study uses a PLS-SEM model to investigate if and under which circumstances exposure to travel-related content posted by professional influencers affects their followers’ travel intentions. It extends previous studies by explicitly focusing on influencers that use Instagram to make a living and considers the effect of pro-environmental attitudes. On the one hand, it shows that influencers are not only responsible for their travel behavior. Their content stimulates their audiences’ wanderlust through benign envy. On the other hand, the study suggests that reinforcing pro-environmental attitudes can help mitigate the negative climate effects of imitating influencer travel behavior.
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