Examining the relationship between the social comparison and anxiety levels of 14-15 year old students

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the social comparison and anxiety levels of 14-15 year old students.The research was carried out by obtaining the necessary written permissions from total of five schools in the Kozan district of Adana province. The universe of research was the eighth grade students in the Kozan district of Adana province and the sample was 357 students who agreed to participate in the research vooluntarily. Data were obtained by using "Social Comparison Scale", "State Trait Anxiety" and Personal İnformation Form. According to the findings obtained from the research a significant relation was found between the social comparison levels and state anxiety levels of 14-15 years old students (r=-0.43, p<0.05). While social comparison scores increase, trait anxiety scores decrease (r=-0.41, p<0.05). Social comparison and trait anxiety scale total scores differ significantly according to the gender variable. It was observed that total scores of social comparison and state anxiety scale showed significant difference according to perceived family income level. Acording to the results of the research, it was seen that anxiety level decreased when the self-evulations made with social comparisons were positive. It was observed that gender and perceived family income level variable were effective in the social comparison process.