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Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Online Self-Presentation, Self-Concept Clarity, and Depressive Symptoms: A Within-Person Examination
Tracy K Wong1,2, Chloe A Hamza3
1Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. tracy.wong@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract:
Although social media provides a crucial platform for self-development in emerging adulthood, the link between online self-presentation and mental health outcomes remains unclear. Thus, the associations among real self, ideal self, different types of false self-presentations, and depressive symptoms were examined over time (T1-T3) in the present study, along with the mediating role of self-concept clarity. Participants (N = 1,217, Mage = 18.14, 71% female-identifying) completed a survey three times over one year. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel modelling indicated that individuals presenting themselves authentically tended to demonstrate stronger self-concept clarity and fewer depressive symptoms. Those engaging in false-deceptive, compare/impress, and ideal self-presentation tended to have weaker self-concept clarity and more depressive symptoms. A within-person bidirectional association was found between false-deceptive self-presentation and depressive symptoms. Within-person increases in false-explore self-presentation predicted increases in depressive symptoms, whereas increases in compare/impress self-presentation predicted decreases in depressive symptoms. Self-concept clarity was not a significant mediator. The findings suggest that promoting authentic online self-presentation may support self-concept clarity and reduce risk of mental health challenges in emerging adults. However, engaging in false-deceptive online self-presentation (both greater than typical levels and compared to others) may increase risk of mental health challenges, and vice versa.
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