THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL COMPARISON ORIENTATION ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

University student’s psychological well-being is reported to be highly affected during the Covid-19 outbreak. To further explore the engagement between the sources of one's deflating well-being during this pandemic, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of social comparison orientation (SCO) on one’s psychological well-being (PWB). A total of 401 undergraduate public university students in Malaysia participated in this study through the convenient sampling method. This study was a cross-sectional and correlational study which used quantitative data for analysis. The instruments used were Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) and shortened 18-items version of Ryff’s Psychological public university. Regression analysis showed that there is a significant effect of SCO on PWB among students in public universities. It was found that high level of ability-based SCO will decrease PWB while high level of opinion-based SCO will increase PWB among public university students. In conclusion, this study highlighted the negative and positive effects of SCO on student’s PWB through upward social comparison theory and social cognitive theory in higher-educational institution level. As to fully utilize the positive effects of opinion-based SCO, this study recommends public universities in Malaysia to develop a strong social support group as a platform for students to increase their PWB by feeling affiliated.