Developing the social media self-presentation discrepancy scale (SMSDS): psychological and social implications of self-presentation and impression management strategies

Kusci İ., Bakır V.

Journal of Social Psychology, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/00224545.2026.2630716
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Social Psychology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Gender Studies Database, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Psicodoc, Psycinfo, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, Social Sciences Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Digital psychology, impression management, self-presentation, social media behaviors
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to develop the Social Media Self-Presentation Discrepancy Scale (SMSDS) to assess individuals’ tendencies to present themselves differently from their real selves in social media environments. The theoretical framework of the study was grounded in Goffman’s theory of self-presentation, Higgins’ self-discrepancy theory, and Leary’s impression management model. Through exploratory (n = 243) and confirmatory (n = 409) factor analyses, the scale’s structural integrity was established, revealing a three-factor structure comprising Reality Distortion and Exaggeration, Idealized Self-Presentation, and Strategic Impression Management. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, and its construct validity and measurement invariance were supported through various statistical analyses. The SMSDS offers a functional assessment tool for evaluating psychological aspects of social media use, identifying risky digital behaviors among young users, and designing intervention programs targeting digital self-presentation. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional nature of self-presentation strategies on social media at both theoretical and applied levels.