Types of parental social comparison and links with adolescent psychological outcomes

Abstract Parental upward social comparison of children is prevalent in China and has often been recognized as a negative parenting practice. However, social comparison theory suggests that comparison can serve adaptive functions, such as fostering motivation and supporting learning. To reconcile this, we propose that there exist critical and encouraging comparisons, with the latter potentially linked to fewer maladaptive outcomes in adolescents. To test this proposition, we conducted three studies. In Study 1, interviews were conducted with adolescents ( n = 4, = 15.25 years, SD = 1.91) and their parents ( n = 4, = 40.88 years, SD = 4.49) to validate the two types of comparison and develop items for a scale assessing these forms of comparison. In Study 2, we used this scale to survey 312 adolescents ( = 17.17 years old, SD = 0.52) on their perceptions of maternal social comparison. Factor analysis supported a correlated two‐factor structure. With another adolescent sample ( n = 348, = 16.16 years old, SD = 0.49), Study 3 showed that after controlling for parental warmth, rejection, and psychological control, adolescents' perceived maternal critical comparison was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower self‐esteem and life satisfaction 1 year later. Perceived maternal encouraging comparison was positively associated with higher levels of self‐esteem and adolescents' own tendency to make upward social comparisons. The research shows that two types of parental social comparison exist in Chinese families with adolescents and that they are differently related to adolescent outcomes.