Psychology: Techniques and Application

Psychology: Techniques and Application ›› 2026, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (8): 483-496.

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The Relationship between Passive Social Media Use and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being: The Roles of Upward Social Comparison and Optimistic Intelligence Quotient

  

  1. College of Education, Hebei University; School of Journalism and Communication, Hebei University
  • Accepted:2026-04-29 Online:2026-07-28 Published:2026-07-28

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Abstract:

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 558 middle school students to explore the relationship between passive social media use and adolescents’ subjective well-being. The results showed that the relationship between passive use and subjective well-being was not significant in both the overall sample, the junior high school sub-sample, and the senior high school sub-sample. Upward assimilation had a positive indirect effect on the relationship between passive use and subjective well-being, and this indirect effect was significant in both the overall sample and the junior high school sub-sample. Upward contrast had a negative indirect effect on the
relationship between passive use and subjective well-being, and this indirect effect was significant in both the overall sample, the junior high school sub-sample, and the senior high school sub-sample. Optimistic intelligence quotient positively moderated the relationship between passive use and upward assimilation, and this moderating effect was significant in both the overall sample and the junior high school sub-sample. Optimistic intelligence quotient negatively moderated the relationship between passive use and upward contrast, and this moderating effect was significant only in the overall sample. Future research should further explore causal relationships and focus on the influence of media content and the depressing or enhancing effects of optimistic intelligence quotient on the aftereffects of upward social comparison.

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CLC Number: 

  • B844
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