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Exploring the association of social comparison with depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
McCarthy Peter A.,
Moriexhmedin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/cpp.2452
Subject(s) - anxiety , psycinfo , meta analysis , psychology , social anxiety , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , subclinical infection , association (psychology) , systematic review , affect (linguistics) , observational study , medline , psychiatry , psychotherapist , medicine , communication , pathology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Research has highlighted the role of social comparison processes in varying affect and psychological wellbeing. These processes can provide greater insight into cognitions and behaviours related to depression and anxiety disorders. This review aimed to examine the relationship of social comparison with depression and anxiety in clinically relevant samples, using a process‐based approach. Studies of clinical and subclinical populations that utilized observational or experimental social comparison assessment were considered for review. A systematic literature search in Medline and PsycInfo databases produced 54 relevant studies (49 studies on adults and five on child and adolescent populations), 14 of which were suitable for a meta‐analysis. A meta‐analysis of the association of social comparison evaluation with depression and anxiety in clinical populations revealed weighted correlations of −0.53 and − 0.39, respectively. No subclinical studies were included in a meta‐analysis due to a lack of comparable outcomes. Evidence suggests differences between depression and anxiety disorders in information seeking, where frequency and diversity of social comparisons vary; however, studies comparing disorders are lacking. Heterogeneity of experimental studies precluded inclusion in a meta‐analysis. A narrative review of experimental data indicated depression and anxiety status is related to reactions to upward comparisons in the domains of affect and behaviour, where individual differences in evaluation can determine affective reactions and how comparison information is further sought. This review suggests social comparison has a significant association with depression and anxiety. However, the limited number of studies with clinical populations necessitates further research on social comparison processes in clinical samples.