Abstract
Background. The increasing role of the digital environment as a space for social comparison significantly affects individuals’ emotional states, self-esteem, and subjective well-being. Social media, as a key component of this environment, intensifies processes of upward comparison, which may contribute to the emergence of envy and influence psychological well-being.
Purpose. The aim of the article is to identify the specific effects of different types of envy on the psychological well-being of social media users through a theoretical and empirical analysis of their interrelationship.
Methods. The methodological framework is based on standardized psychodiagnostic instruments, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale (BeMaS), and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). Correlation and regression analyses were employed to identify statistically significant relationships between the studied variables.
Results. The findings indicate a strong positive relationship between self-esteem and the happiness index, as well as eudaimonic well-being, highlighting the role of self-esteem as a fundamental factor of psychological well-being. Malicious envy was found to negatively affect self-esteem and general well-being, acting as a factor of psychological distress and emotional tension. In contrast, benign envy demonstrates positive correlations with eudaimonic and social well-being, indicating its potentially adaptive and motivational nature. Regression analysis revealed that envy in social media is a statistically significant predictor of decreased levels of happiness and self-esteem, explaining 14.9% and 12.8% of the variance, respectively. Additionally, envy may disrupt interpersonal relationships, causing alienation and internal conflicts, while its constructive reflection can act as a catalyst for personal growth.
Conclusions. Envy in the digital environment has an ambivalent nature: it may either undermine psychological well-being or, under conditions of adequate emotional regulation, serve as a resource for personal development. Further research should focus on developing psychological interventions aimed at reducing the destructive manifestations of envy and enhancing its constructive potential.
Keywords: envy; psychological well-being; social media; self-esteem.
Received: January 16, 2026
Accepted: April 23, 2026
Published: April 30, 2026
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