Appearance in the Mirror of Comparison: Social Comparison, Self-Esteem, and Appearance Anxiety Among Pakistani University Students

Abstract

Appearance anxiety is a growing concern among university students, especially since being judged by peers, image-filled social media, and constant comparisons are part and parcel of everyday life. This study examined the extent to which social comparison tendencies and self-esteem levels predict appearance anxiety in Pakistani university  students and further investigated whether self-esteem functions as a moderating variable in the social comparison–appearance anxiety link. The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design, and 309 students (18-25 years old) were selected from public and private universities in South Punjab, Pakistan by using purposive sampling technique. Three instruments were completed by the participants; the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI), all of which are validated. The statistical analysis was done by Pearson correlation, Multiple linear regressions, and Moderation analysis (PROCESS Model 1). The results showed that there was a strong positive correlation between social comparison and appearance anxiety, as well as a strong negative correlation between self esteem and appearance anxiety. Both variables were found to be significant predictors of the regression model. Importantly, self-esteem was a significant buffer in the relationship; the more positive the self-esteem, the weaker the relationship between comparison tendencies and distress with appearance. The overall results indicate that social comparison is a subconscious mental mechanism of appearance anxiety, and that self-esteem is a protective factor, which lessens the negative effects of social comparison. The study contributes to the literature on body image and youth mental health by placing the comparison orientation and self-esteem in the foreground in a South Asian university setting.