Vol. 2 No. issue 12,feb 2026,pg 2043-2061 (2026): Influence of Social Media Comparison on Self-Esteem, Body Image, Satisfaction, and Psychological Well-Being among Young Adults

This study explores how social media comparison relates to the self-esteem, body image satisfaction and psychological well-being of young adults. Evidence was systemically reviewed using a secondary qualitative research design from the peer-reviewed literature, meta-analysis, experimental studies, and authoritative sources mainly published since 2018. Five themes were synthesized across the themes: upward social comparison, idealised appearance and body dissatisfaction, psychological distress, platform and gender-related vulnerabilities, and the possibility for positive effects of body-positive content and digital resilience. Results suggest that comparing one to idealized versions on social media is linked to lower self-esteem, body image satisfaction, and mental health. There is also some evidence of a moderate correlation between online social comparison and body image concerns, and a potentially more positive effect when people compare downward and/or engage with supportive body-positive communities. The study underscores the need to foster digital-media literacy, redesign the platforms to be healthier, create positive online communities, and implement resilience-based interventions to help young adults have healthier psychological reactions.

Keywords: Social comparison, social media, self-esteem, body satisfaction, body image, psychological well-being, Instagram, TikTok and young adults.