The current research
study examined the way that social networking site use impacts individuals’
self-esteem in relation to their romantic relationship, relationship
satisfaction, and social comparison orientation. Previous research has
established links between SNS use and negative mental health outcomes, but no
current research studies SNS use, specifically time spent on SNS use, and how
it relates to self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, and social comparison
orientation. Using social comparison theory, this study predicted that
increased time spent on SNSs would negatively impact relationship satisfaction,
self-esteem, and positively predict social comparison orientation. An online
survey was used to test the relationship among these variables by asking
questions and using scales related to relationship satisfaction, relationship
contingent self-esteem, and social comparison orientation, while looking at how
time spent on SNS impacted these results, as well as how often an individual
posts about their relationship impacted the results. Structural equation modeling
was used to analyze the data. This study found that increased time spent on SNS
platforms did negatively impact relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, as
well as positively predict social comparison orientation. Although, some of the
hypotheses were not supported or were only partially supported, the findings
from this study further show the importance of understanding SNS use,
especially in the clinical context, so it can be assessed and utilized in the
therapy setting.