Abstract
The repercussions of using social media have been well documented, however, making comparisons between oneself to images or representations of success that are often edited or over-exaggerated may contribute to an under-inflated self-image. Using a student sample, this study examined the role of social comparison using social media on the prediction of impostor feelings from effortless perfectionism and the tendency to engage in self-handicapping behaviors. Results showed that social comparison using social media acted as a mediator in the prediction of impostor feelings from both effortless perfectionism and self-handicapping behavior. Further, social comparison using social media acted as a moderator in the prediction of impostor feelings from self-handicapping. These results indicate that believing in a perfectionistic ideal and employing more self-handicapping techniques increases chances of experiences impostor feelings. The prediction of impostor feelings is strengthened when individuals are also making social comparisons using over-exaggerated examples of success.