Upward Social Comparison and Academic Performance: A Causal Model of Social Comparison Affect and Behavior as Mediators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social comparison affect and behavior on academic performance in a causal process model. Junior high school students, 812 in total, participated in the study. With measurement equation modeling, I examined the causal process model that social comparison affect and behavior mediated the relationship between students' situational and individual difference factors and academic performance. Results indicated that upward social comparison, comparing oneself with better performing others, could lead to either high or low academic performance. If upward social comparison led to more inspiring affects, there would be more effort as coping behavior, which in turn had a positive effect on academic performance. On the other hand, if social comparison affects were more of resentment and humiliation, more avoidant behavior would be seen, producing a significant negative effect on academic performance.View full abstract