arbiter
JournalsPricingAccount

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

İsmail Kuşci & Vedat Bakır

Journal of Social Psychology2026https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2026.2630716article
AJG 1ABDC B
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

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 (<i>n</i> = 243) and confirmatory (<i>n</i> = 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.

Open paper page →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2026.2630716

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{i̇smail2026,
  title        = {{Developing the social media self-presentation discrepancy scale (SMSDS): psychological and social implications of self-presentation and impression management strategies}},
  author       = {İsmail Kuşci & Vedat Bakır},
  journal      = {Journal of Social Psychology},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2026.2630716},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

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

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.