Upward Social Comparison on Network and Alcohol Dependence in College Students: the Chain Mediation Impacts of Relative Deprivation and Anxiety

Overview

Journal BMC Psychol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Psychology

Date 2024 Dec 19

PMID 39696516

Authors

Shuna Li

Kaijie Zhang

Kaizhen Kong

Hua Niu

Zhenli Jiang

Hongbo Guo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, contemporary society has placed growing emphasis on the alcohol drinking behavior of college students.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design to assess the relationship between upward social comparison (USC) on network and college students drinking behavior, while exploring the mediation impact of relative deprivation (RD) and anxiety. A total of 329 college students (Mage = 21.37 years old; 16.11% women) were enrolled to complete a set of questionnaires evaluating USC on network, RD, anxiety and alcohol dependence.

Results: The results showed that (1) USC on network, RD, anxiety and alcohol dependence were significantly, positively correlated in pairs, and (2) RD and anxiety exhibited a significant chain mediating role between USC on network and alcohol dependence, and USC on network positively predicted alcohol dependence via the mediating effect of anxiety.

Conclusions: This study reveals that USC on network positively predicts alcohol dependence via the mediating effect of anxiety, and that RD and anxiety play a chain-mediating role between USC on network and alcohol dependence.

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