• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.469-480
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• 2020

The study investigated the effects of SNS usage on 20s and 30s female SNS users' internalization of thin body, body surveillance, appearance upper comparison, body dissatisfaction and eating disorders based on objectification theory and social comparison theory. The study examined differences on SNS usage and body image variables between high and low groups of SNS envy and self-compassion. Social Network Service (SNS) is used as a contemporary marketing tool for brands and companies. It also influences the body image of female SNS users. The survey used an online survey company for female SNS users in their 20s and 30s to analyze the effect of SNS usage. The results showed that SNS usage significantly impacted the internalization of a thin body, body surveillance and appearance upper comparison. The internalization of thin body also had a significant impact on body surveillance and appearance upper comparison. Appearance upper comparison positively affected body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Finally, the group with higher SNS envy showed higher SNS usage, internalization of thin body, body surveillance, appearance upper comparison, body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. The group with higher self-compassion showed opposite results. This study provided a theoretical expansion for a SNS and female body image study with objectification theory and social comparison theory. It also suggests positive SNS marketing strategies use for brands. Lastly, this study emphasized the importance of the proper use of SNS to protect the body image of SNS users.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.238-248
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• 2020

This study examines the feelings of positivity and negativity generated through upward social comparison and explores the impact of the results of the emotions on SNS users' posting behavior. In particular, this study aims to systematically identify the influence of upward social comparison on SNS followers and uploaders' SNS usage behavior and the structural principle of social network circulation in which followers become uploaders again. According to the analysis, interaction-oriented followers made negative upward social comparison and positive upward social comparison, while negative upward social comparison reduced the publication of independence tendency. However, positive upward social comparison has been shown to increase both independent and interactive postings. The results of this study are meaningful in that SNS has expanded the results of prior studies, in which social comparison theories were biased toward negative upward comparisons, to positive upward comparisons. In addition, this study suggested a practical strategy for SNS platform operators on how SNS users would not deviate from other platforms.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.563-571
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• 2010

In carrying out the prior review on environmental conditions for basic plan of public waters reclamation, the important item is review on conditions of location on prearranged reclaimed land. In this study, environmental assessment which needs careful consideration in the first stage of selecting location is presented by analyzing environmental impact assessment on public waters reclamation projects for about 10 years. The assessment index for alternative comparison is divided into two parts according to importance level. What is most important in alternative comparison is the comparison on direct influence due to reclamation. In other words, it figures out damaged extent of natural shoreline as well as intertidal and infralittoral zones. Comparing influence extent due to reclamation through the 1st comparison on this is regarded as to be important. In case there is no significant difference by alternatives through the 1st assessment, the 2nd assessment should be carried out. In the 2nd assessment indexes are damaged quantity of benthic organism, change in seawater current, erosion, accumulation and exchangeable rate of seawater. The plan for selecting optimal location which minimizes environmental influence in establishing public waters reclamation plan is demonstrated through model cases. For this, 3 districts which have similar environment and scale are selected, and then comparison on location alternative is made through environmental assessment index. In addition, the comparison on 3 arrangement alternatives are conducted, targeting certain areas. It is thought that carrying out comparison review on respective areas in the same cities and counties, not merely comparing arrangement plan by selecting 1 targeting area in advance, is the most appropriate. Besides, selection of arrangement plan considering environment, which minimizes damage of natural shoreline and influence due to change of seawater current is required in alternative comparison on arrangement plan as well. In case of the prior review on environmental conditions though alternative comparison method presented in this study is carried out, it is safely said that the influence on ocean environment due to public waters reclamation can be minimized.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.186-199
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• 2021

SNS (social networking service) plays an important role in delivering information regarding fashion brands and providing a space for communication between fashion retailers and SNS users, as well as between users. This study primarily focuses on exploring the relationships among the motivation of SNS users and social comparison, clothing purchasing behaviors and the difference in the relationships according to individual characteristics. An online survey was conducted on Chinese female consumers in their 20's and 30's who had experience in fashion SNS. A total of 297 women completed online survey. The results of the study revealed that: (1) consumers who have stronger motivation of information seeking and interpersonal communication through fashion SNS reached more active upward comparison and peer comparison accordingly; (2) upward comparison had a significant effect on conspicuous consumption and bandwagon, while peer comparison had no significant effect; and (3) the self-esteem of fashion SNS users significantly moderated the effect of social comparison on conspicuous consumption and conformity consumption. This study contributed to expanding the knowledge on the relationships among the motivations of SNS users and social comparison, and shed light on Chinese SNS users' characteristics and purchasing behaviors in the fashion SNS context. This study also provides vital implications to fashion brands and retailers.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2019

This study examined the effects of social comparison orientation and stress coping styles on job-seeking stress experienced by university students. The participants of this study were 324 junior and senior students (151 males and 173 females) from six universities located in Seoul who were preparing for employment. They were asked to respond to a written questionnaire to measure research variables for the Job-Seeking Stress Scale, the Social Comparison Orientation Scale, and the Ways of Coping Checklist. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and a hierarchical multiple regression. The major findings of this study were as follows. First, social comparison orientation had a positive effect on job-seeking stress of university students, revealing that students with a high level of social comparison orientation were more likely to experience job-seeking stress. Second, both emotion-alleviation coping style and wishful thinking coping style increased level of job-seeking stress. In addition, problem-focused coping style had a negative influence on job-seeking stress, whereas social support seeking coping style had no significant effect on it. The results suggested that it would be possible to reduce job-seeking stress of university students by changing either social comparison or stress coping style.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1626-1638
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• 2019

Social Networking Sites (SNS) provide people with unique online social interaction environments where users can disclose their thoughts, feelings, and opinions to their personal contacts. Although previous studies have suggested that such activities produce positive effects on SNS user well-being, this study considered potential negative effects by investigating the relationship between SNS use and depression. In particular, This stydy examined how specific activities are related to different types of social comparison (upward/downward/horizontal) and how these different types of social comparison influence depressed moods among college students. The analysis of a survey of 245 Instagram users found that (1) looking at other people's status updates and commenting on other people's photos influences upward social comparison, (2) frequency of Instagram use predicts upward/downward/horizontal social comparison, and (3) upward social comparison was postively associated with depression, while downward social comparison was negatively associated with depression. Furthermore, the path anlaysis show that social comparison mediates the effect of Instagram use on depression. It suggests that Instagram use does not directly increase depression but it can lead to depression when social comparison on Instagram triggers depression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2019

Social media is an essential part of everyday life in modern society and plays an important role in communicating the ideal body image. With the increased prevalence and high popularity of social media, the problems associated with the addictive use of social media have become a social issue. Utilizing social comparison theory, this study examined (1) the effect of appearance related photo activities on body satisfaction through appearance comparison and (2) the moderating effect of Instagram addiction in relationships among appearance related photo activity, appearance comparison, and body satisfaction. We tested the proposed relationships between research variables using multi-group structural equation modeling analysis on a sample of 346 young female Instagram users. The sample was divided into two groups of high and low addicted Instagram users. The results of this study showed that the appearance related photo activity positively influenced appearance comparison for both high and low addiction groups. For the high addiction group, the effect of appearance comparison on body satisfaction was not statistically significant; however, this relationship was significant and negative for the low addiction group. A significant moderating effect of Instagram addiction was found in the relationship between appearance related photo activity and appearance comparison.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.445-452
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• 2016

The purposes of this study were to examine the two processes of social comparison and self-comparison, and to suggest the applications of social comparison theories and self-comparison theories. For these purposes, social comparison theory, self-evaluation maintenance model, control theory, self-discrepancy theory, regulatory focus theory, and temporal comparison theory were reviewed. The processes of social comparison and self-comparison are different, but both comparisons are similar in that they have some effects on self-evaluation, emotion, motivation and behaviors. Suggestions on education, health, economic justice and interpersonal relationships were discussed.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1-20
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify the criteria of evaluating a price-comparison website, and to investigate the consumers' perceived importance and satisfaction of each criterion. Also, it compared both the importance and satisfaction levels based on consumers' socio-economic and Internet-usage characteristics. Data for this study came from a questionnaire completed by consumers (n=417), who had used the price-comparison website, and were analyzed through factor analysis, t-test, and ANOVA. The findings of the study were as follows: First, the evaluation criteria of the price-comparison website were categorized into five variety of information, accuracy, convenience, credibility, and the website system. Second, convenience of searching information was seen by consumers as both the most important and most satisfactory criterion. Variety of information was also considered important. For most of the evaluation criteria, the level of consumers' satisfaction was significantly lower than the level of consumers' recognized importance. Third, consumers in their 20s, students, and housewives were less likely to be satisfied by the price-comparison website overall. Older people were less likely to be satisfied with the convenience of the website, and the higher-income group was less likely to be satisfied with the variety of information on hand.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.163-188
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• 2023

Purpose The study examines the impact of the level of anthropomorphism (both in appearance and behavior) of virtual humans on user liking. It investigates whether this relationship is mediated by social comparison experiences, with the moderated mediation effect of users' desire for self-improvement. Design/methodology/approach A between-groups experimental design was employed to examine the impact of different levels of appearance(low/mid/high) and behavior(low/high) anthropomorphism on user liking of virtual humans. The experiment was conducted in an online environment, and participants were randomly exposed to one of six stimuli, which were Instagram-like posts. Findings The results indicate that as virtual humans become more anthropomorphic, they have a positive impact on user liking. However, once the level of anthropomorphism in appearance reaches a certain point (mid vs high), there is no significant difference in user liking. Users who perceive virtual humans as highly anthropomorphic tend to engage in more social comparison experiences, which positively affects their liking for these virtual humans. Conversely, individuals with a high desire for self-improvement found that the positive effect of appearance anthropomorphism on liking through social comparison experiences was reduced. The study extends the application of social comparison theory by examining its impact on influencer marketing with virtual beings. It provides valuable insights for the formulation of influencer marketing strategies using virtual humans.