An investigation into the relationship between celebrity attitudes, social comparison and social media use

Crossman, Abigail Leigh (2016) An investigation into the relationship between celebrity attitudes, social comparison and social media use. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

"The study aimed to investigate further the area of celebrity worship due to research suggesting mental health implications for people who have intense Parasocial relationships with celebrities. In addition, Celebrity worship was studied in relation to social media use and social comparison as this is a relatively unexplored area in Psychology. An opportunity sample of 103 volunteers completed an online questionnaire investigating the 3 variables. A multiple regression analysis was then used to analyse the data. It was found that the multiple regression model was not significant and therefore none of the predictor variables; social media use and social comparison, were significant predictors of the criterion variable; celebrity worship. Therefore, the studies hypotheses; “There will be a correlation between social media use and level of celebrity worship” and “This relationship will be related to scores on the social comparison orientation scale” were rejected as there was no significant relationship found between the variables. Based on the findings from this study, it is suggested that future research investigates the effect of above average social media use and in particular the influence that peer relationships can have on an individual or group regarding social comparison.