PERAN SOCIAL COMPARISON TERHADAP STRES AKADEMIK PADA MAHASISWA DENGAN MEDIATOR IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51878/academia.v6i4.15278Keywords:
Social Comparison, Impostor Syndrome, Stres Akademik, Mediasi, MahasiswaAbstract
Academic stress is one of the most prevalent psychological problems experienced by university students due to heavy curricular demands and competitive collegiate environments. This academic pressure is frequently aggravated by social comparison behaviors occurring in daily interactions and digital platforms, which potentially induces severe self-doubt. Therefore, this quantitative study with a cross-sectional design aims to examine the mediating role of impostor syndrome in the relationship between social comparison and academic stress among undergraduate students. A total of 103 active university students in Jakarta completed the Iowa Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (α=0.917), Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (α=0.910), and Perception of Academic Stress Scale (α=0.848). Mediation analysis using structural equation modeling with 4,992 bootstrap samples revealed a statistically significant full mediation (β=0.126, p<.001), while the direct effect was non-significant (β=-0.006, p=.932). These empirical findings demonstrate that social comparison triggers academic stress exclusively through the elevated psychological feelings of being an intellectual fraud.
ABSTRAK
Stres akademik merupakan salah satu permasalahan psikologis yang paling banyak dialami oleh mahasiswa akibat berbagai tuntutan kurikulum serta persaingan di lingkungan perguruan tinggi. Tekanan akademik tersebut sering kali diperparah oleh perilaku social comparison atau perbandingan sosial yang marak terjadi melalui interaksi langsung maupun media sosial, sehingga berpotensi memicu keraguan terhadap kemampuan diri. Oleh karena itu, penelitian kuantitatif dengan desain cross-sectional ini bertujuan untuk menguji peran impostor syndrome sebagai mediator dalam hubungan antara social comparison dan stres akademik pada mahasiswa aktif. Sebanyak 103 mahasiswa di Jakarta berpartisipasi dengan mengisi instrumen Iowa Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (α=0,917), Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (α=0,910), dan Perception of Academic Stress Scale (α=0,848). Analisis mediasi berbasis structural equation modeling menggunakan teknik bootstrap 4.992 sampel menunjukkan adanya mediasi penuh yang signifikan (β=0,126, p<0,001), sedangkan efek langsung tidak signifikan (β=-0,006, p=0,932). Temuan ini menyimpulkan bahwa perbandingan sosial memicu stres akademik sepenuhnya melalui peningkatan perasaan penipu.
Downloads
References
Apriatama, D., Romiaty, R., Idha, S. A., Anisah, W. N., & Maulida, R. (2022). Konseling kelompok dengan teknik restrukturisasi kognitif untuk meningkatkan harga diri santri. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(4), 6281–6288. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v6i4.3229
Auliannisa, S., & Hatta, M. I. (2021). Hubungan social comparison dengan gejala depresi pada mahasiswa pengguna Instagram. Jurnal Riset Psikologi, 1(2), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.29313/jrp.v1i2.561
Bedewy, D., & Gabriel, A. (2015). Examining perceptions of academic stress and its sources among university students: The Perception of Academic Stress Scale. Health Psychology Open, 2(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102915596714
Clance, P. R. (1985). The impostor phenomenon: Overcoming the fear that haunts your success. Peachtree Publishers.
Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006
Feinstein, B. A., Hershenberg, R., Bhatia, V., Latack, J. A., Meuwly, N., & Davila, J. (2013). Negative social comparison on Facebook and depressive symptoms: Rumination as a mechanism. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2(3), 161–170. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033111
Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202
Firjatullah, F., & Ramadhani, A. (2024). Impostor syndrome and academic hardiness: Investigating the impact on academic anxiety students. Psychology, Evaluation, and Technology in Educational Research, 7(1), 64–73. https://doi.org/10.33292/petier.v7i1.244
Gibbons, F. X., & Buunk, B. P. (1999). Individual differences in social comparison: Development of a scale of social comparison orientation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(1), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.1.129
Hendry, G., Wilson, C. A., & Gilmour, E. (2022). ‘If I do well I feel on top of the world’: Investigating the impact of psychology students’ academic achievement on self-esteem. Psychology Teaching Review, 28(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2022.28.1.47
Iqra. (2024). A systematic review of academic stress intended to improve the educational journey of learners. Methods in Psychology, 11, Article 100163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100163
Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
Liu, S., Wei, M., & Russell, D. (2023). Effects of a brief self-compassion intervention for college students with impostor phenomenon. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 70(6), 711–724. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000703
Maji, S., Shivhare, V., & Kumar, Y. (2024). Imposter phenomenon, social comparison orientation, and mental health: A study of high-achieving Indian college students. Roeper Review, 47(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2024.2420356
Mustaqina, R. D., & Mulyeni, S. (2025). Dampak penggunaan media sosial terhadap gangguan psikologis mahasiswa. RISOMA: Jurnal Riset Sosial Humaniora dan Pendidikan, 4(2), 9–20. https://doi.org/10.62383/risoma.v4i2.1521
Ninawati, N., Marhaeni, P. P., Abiyya, M., Meyrasikhah, F., & Emor, K. A. (2026). Pengaruh penggunaan lilin aromaterapi terhadap stress akademik mahasiswa. SOCIAL: Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPS, 6(1), 316–325. https://doi.org/10.51878/social.v6i1.9719
Putra, A. H., & Ahmad, R. (2020). Improving academic self efficacy in reducing first year student academic stress. Jurnal Neo Konseling, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.24036/00282kons2020
Qasem, N., Alqaisi, N., Alsalhy, R., Mohammad, N. H., Alsadi, M., & Shehadeh, J. (2025). Imposter syndrome among university students: Impact on levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Creative Nursing, 31(2), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/10784535251323005
Sudrajat, A. A., Insani, H. M., Maulidia, M., Fadhilah, W. R., & Praja, W. (2023). The role of family communication in dealing with youth impostor syndrome during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jurnal Spektrum Komunikasi, 11(3), 409–418. https://doi.org/10.37826/spektrum.v11i3.441
Wen, R., & Jin, Q. (2025). The effect of upward social comparison on academic involution among college students: Serial mediating effects of self-esteem and perceived stress. Behavioral Sciences, 15(11), Article 1515. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111515
Xu, L., & Li, L. (2024). Upward social comparison and social anxiety among Chinese college students: A chain-mediation model of relative deprivation and rumination. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1430539. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1430539
Yang, X., Jiar, Y. K., Lee, S. H., & Handayani, L. (2024). A systematic review of impostor syndrome in higher education. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 13(6), 3884. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i6.30726
Zavatska, N., Omelianiuk, S., Zavatskyi, V., & Petrenko, M. (2024). Social comparison in the organization of the structure of self-efficacy of higher education students. Insight: The Psychological Dimensions of Society, 12, 290–310. https://doi.org/10.32999/2663-970x/2024-12-13
Zhou, Z. (2025). Mechanisms of adolescent stress in a meritocratic culture: Social comparison and attribution bias. Scientific Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(7), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.54691/6msswq40
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ninawati Ninawati, Farhan Febrian Shalwa, Yumikha Grace, Vini Pearl Wijaya, Natashya Alvina Listiyani

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.














