This study tested whether age moderates the longitudinal relationships between upward and downward comparisons on Instagram and three identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment). Two hundred and eleven British emerging adults completed two self-report surveys, two months apart, in early 2020. A cross-lagged panel model with interaction terms found that age moderated the relationships between both upward and downward comparisons on Instagram and commitment. Contingent moderations were found: the relationship between upward comparisons and commitment was negative for older participants, whilst the relationship between downward comparisons and commitment was negative for younger participants. Significant age differences were not found in the paths between the comparison behaviours and the two exploratory processes. Findings therefore provide evidence to suggest that developmental factors may inform the identity implications of social comparisons on Instagram during emerging adulthood, and thus, developmental sensitivity is required when supporting emerging adults to navigate the platform.

中文翻译：

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年龄很重要？年龄对 Instagram 上向上和向下比较之间的纵向关系的调节作用以及新兴成年期的身份过程

这项研究测试了年龄是否会调节 Instagram 上向上和向下比较与三个身份过程（即承诺、深入探索和重新考虑承诺）之间的纵向关系。211 名英国新兴成年人在 2020 年初完成了两次自我报告调查，相隔两个月。一个带有交互项的交叉滞后面板模型发现，年龄调节了 Instagram 上的向上和向下比较与承诺之间的关系。发现了或有调节：向上比较和承诺之间的关系对于年长的参与者是负面的，而向下比较和承诺之间的关系对于年轻的参与者是负面的。在比较行为和两个探索过程之间的路径中没有发现显着的年龄差异。因此，研究结果提供了证据，表明发展因素可能会影响成年期 Instagram 上社会比较的身份影响，因此，在支持新兴成年人浏览平台时需要发展敏感性。