PENGARUH SOSIAL COMPARISON TERHADAP PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING DI ERA MEDIA SOSIAL PADA GENERASI Z DI KOTA MEDAN - Ferdi Danuarta Sitorus; Nenny Ika Putri Simarmata (Pusat Pengembangan Pendidikan dan Penelitian Indonesia (P4I), 2026)
ABSTRACT The rapid development of social media has increased social comparison behavior among Generation Z, particularly through exposure to other people's achievements and lifestyles on digital platforms. This condition potentially affects the psychological well-being of adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to examine the influence of social comparison on the psychological well-being of Generation Z in Medan City. This research employed a quantitative approach using a simple linear regression method. The participants were Generation Z individuals aged 13–28 years who actively used social media. Data were collected using a social comparison scale based on Buunk and Gibbons’ theory and a psychological well-being scale based on Ryff’s theory, both of which had been tested for validity and reliability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics 20. The findings revealed that social comparison had a negative and significant effect on psychological well-being, with a t-value of 18.004 greater than the t-table value of 1.967 and a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). The R Square value of 0.496 indicated that social comparison contributed 49.6% to psychological well-being. The regression coefficient of −0.962 indicated that higher levels of social comparison were associated with lower levels of psychological well-being. This study concludes that excessive self-comparison through social media can reduce the psychological well-being of Generation Z, particularly in the aspect of purpose in life. ABSTRAK Perkembangan media sosial yang pesat mendorong meningkatnya perilaku social comparison pada Generasi Z, khususnya melalui paparan konten kehidupan dan pencapaian orang lain di berbagai platform digital. Kondisi ini berpotensi memengaruhi psychological well-being remaja dan dewasa awal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh social comparison terhadap psychological well-being Generasi Z di Kota Medan. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan metode regresi linear sederhana. Subjek penelitian merupakan Generasi Z berusia 13–28 tahun yang aktif menggunakan media sosial. Pengumpulan data dilakukan menggunakan skala social comparison berdasarkan teori Buunk dan Gibbons serta skala psychological well-being berdasarkan teori Ryff yang telah diuji validitas dan reliabilitasnya. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan SPSS Statistics 20. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa social comparison berpengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap psychological well-being dengan nilai t hitung 18,004 lebih besar dari t tabel 1,967 dan nilai signifikansi 0,000 (p < 0,05). Nilai R Square sebesar 0,496 menunjukkan bahwa social comparison memberikan kontribusi sebesar 49,6% terhadap psychological well-being. Koefisien regresi bernilai negatif sebesar −0,962 yang menunjukkan bahwa semakin tinggi perilaku social comparison, maka semakin rendah tingkat psychological well-being individu. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa penggunaan media sosial yang disertai kecenderungan membandingkan diri secara berlebihan dapat menurunkan kesejahteraan psikologis Generasi Z, terutama pada aspek tujuan hidup.