The Impact of Social Media Use on Job Burnout: The Role of Social Comparison

Abstract

Through an online survey of a working population sample (N = 530), this study examines the role of social comparison between social media use and job burnout. The results show that: (1) there is a significant positive correlation between social media use and job burnout; (2) social comparison plays a moderating role in social media's impact on burnout. In high social comparative groups, the moderating role develops into an mediating role, which means that job burnout is only significant when social media addiction and the inclination of social comparison are simultaneously strong; (3) Social media users who often make downward comparison and get positive emotions from it are more prone to job burnout. This study reveals the possible negative effects of overuse of new media and enriches the understanding of how social media shapes individuals' psychology and behavior. Studies have also shown that regulating and controlling social comparisons and avoiding excessive use of social media may be effective in reducing job burnout.

Be Aware of Burnout! The Role of Changes in Academic Burnout in Problematic Facebook Usage among University Students

“…The positive effects of greater academic burnout and exhaustion seem to be consistent with results from past studies [27,48] and with the mechanisms connected to escapism from real life problems and reduced psychological distress thanks to online activity. In the JD-R model, burnout causes health impairment and lack of life satisfaction because of chronic dysregulation of core emotional and cognitive mechanisms [33,49].…”

“…Demerouti et al [45], using the most popular burnout model JD-R, which has also been successfully applied in an educational context by Salmela-Aro and Upadayaya [46], stated that social media may alleviate job/school-related pressure and stress. From this perspective, social media may be one of the social recourses that reduces all negative stressors and emotional exhaustion, as well as enhancing the success of individuals thanks to support from online groups or co-workers (classmates) [47,48]. However, social me-dia overuse has adverse effects and has been found to positively correlate with job and student burnout [18,27,48].…”

“…From this perspective, social media may be one of the social recourses that reduces all negative stressors and emotional exhaustion, as well as enhancing the success of individuals thanks to support from online groups or co-workers (classmates) [47,48]. However, social me-dia overuse has adverse effects and has been found to positively correlate with job and student burnout [18,27,48]. According to Walburg et al [18], the link between burnout and Facebook addiction results from the escapist mechanism underlying social media use.…”

“…Another identified mechanism for social media overuse and job burnout is "social comparison". Facebook users compare themselves to others and this process plays a mediating role, as those who are addicted make downward comparisons [48]. However, in such comparisons "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer", meaning that Facebook users with low self-esteem will, due to these comparisons, see themselves as even more imperfect than others and more worthless [8].…”

The Impact of Ban of Twitter on the Psychomedical and Socioeconomic Life of Young Health Professionals and Trainees in Nigeria

“…As the Nigerian healthcare worker is almost always over worked and burnt-out, having a medium to intermittently clear the mind is almost the only consolation some get. This is not synonymous to social media addiction, as it rather has a positive correlation with work burnout, but an intermittent stress relieves medium [3]. Twitter has been that medium.…”