Paper Type
Short
Paper Number
PACIS2026-1775
Description
Social media use plays an important role in shaping the mental health of adolescents and young adults. This study examines how social media echo chambers influence depressive affect, focusing on upward social comparison as a key mechanism and emotional social support as a moderator. Using survey data from users aged 12–24 and structural equation modeling (SEM), results show that echo chamber exposure is positively associated with depressive affect and upward social comparison. Upward social comparison also increases depressive affect and partially mediates the echo chamber–depression relationship. Emotional social support weakens the direct association between echo chambers and depressive affect but strengthens the link between upward social comparison and depressive affect. These findings show how social media information environments shape young users’ mental health.
Recommended Citation
Tseng, Pin-Ruei; Saini, Vipin; and Hung, Shin-Yuan, "The Impact of Social Comparison and Social Support in Social Media Echo Chambers on Depressive Affect among Young People" (2026). PACIS 2026 Proceedings. 16.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2026/ishealthcare/ishealthcare/16
The Impact of Social Comparison and Social Support in Social Media Echo Chambers on Depressive Affect among Young People
Social media use plays an important role in shaping the mental health of adolescents and young adults. This study examines how social media echo chambers influence depressive affect, focusing on upward social comparison as a key mechanism and emotional social support as a moderator. Using survey data from users aged 12–24 and structural equation modeling (SEM), results show that echo chamber exposure is positively associated with depressive affect and upward social comparison. Upward social comparison also increases depressive affect and partially mediates the echo chamber–depression relationship. Emotional social support weakens the direct association between echo chambers and depressive affect but strengthens the link between upward social comparison and depressive affect. These findings show how social media information environments shape young users’ mental health.
Comments
14-Healthcare