Social Media Use, Social Comparison, and Mental Health Scores among Statistics Students

Abstract

Social media use and online comparison may be associated with students’ psychological experiences, but these relationships require careful measurement and interpretation. This study examined the associations of social media use and social comparison with mental health scores among Diploma-IV Statistics students at Universitas Sumatera Utara. A quantitative survey included 155 students from a population of 252, with stratified random sampling reported across the 2023–2025 cohorts. Data were collected through online and offline questionnaires containing six items for each of three constructs. Multiple linear regression showed positive associations between the outcome score and social media use (B = 0.315, β = .314, p < .001) and social comparison (B = 0.425, β = .507, p < .001). The model accounted for 46.1% of the observed variance (R² = .461; adjusted R² = .454), with a residual standard error of 2.750. These coefficients describe higher outcome scores; they cannot establish improved or poorer mental health because the scoring direction was not documented. The observational design also precludes causal conclusions. The findings identify associations for further investigation and may inform the development of campus digital literacy activities, but intervention benefits remain untested. Clearer instrument documentation and longitudinal analyses are needed before stronger substantive interpretations can be made.