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Comparison Is the Thief of Joy? Introducing the Attitudes Towards Social Comparison Inventory.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Meyer, Thomas 

Abstract

Social comparison has a significant impact on individuals' motivation, affect, and behavior. However, we lack a scale that captures individual differences in attitudes toward social comparison. To address this gap, we developed the Attitudes Toward Social Comparison Inventory (ASCI) drawing on existing scales that tap into metacognitive beliefs about worrying, self-motives, beliefs about emotions, and the general comparative-processing model. We examined the psychometric properties of the ASCI in a longitudinal study (N = 1,084), and a second (N = 550) and third cross-sectional study (N = 306). Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, we identified a 12-item two-factor solution capturing positive and negative attitudes toward social comparison. The ASCI demonstrated measurement invariance across gender and time. The two factors were differentially and longitudinally associated with relevant constructs, including social comparison, metacognitive beliefs about worrying, depression, self-concept clarity, envy, and self-esteem. The ASCI facilitates comprehensive investigations of social comparison processes.

Description

Peer reviewed: True

Keywords

attitudes, comparison theory, self-motives, social comparison, Humans, Male, Female, Longitudinal Studies, Psychometrics, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Attitude, Social Comparison, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Young Adult, Self Concept, Middle Aged, Adolescent, Surveys and Questionnaires

Journal Title

Assessment

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1073-1911
1552-3489

Volume Title

31

Publisher

SAGE Publications