Although social comparison to idealised images has been shown to have a potential negative impact on body image and subjective wellbeing in adolescence, a comprehensive understanding of comparison processes and their outcomes is lacking. Two studies were conducted for this thesis to explore the role of social comparison to idealised images in adolescence. For the first study, 20 interviews were conducted with 12-14 year old boys and girls and data analysed using a grounded theory approach. The focus of the study was on eliciting comparison processes used in adolescents' everyday lives with an
emphasis on who adolescents compare themselves to ( comparison target) and what criteria they compare on (comparison dimension). Adolescents showed an awareness of societal standards and expectations in the context of appearance and mentioned different comparison processes, targets and dimensions. The Social Comparison Scale for Adolescents (SCASA) was developed based on the interviews from the first study and previous findings in the literature. The second study validated the new scale and tested a hypothetical model using structural equation modelling with 275 boys and 278 girls (mean age= 14.80 years). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire measuring dispositional variables and a range of social comparison appraisals and outcomes. Validation of the new measure using confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup comparison found factorial validity and support for gender invariance. The main results of the structural equation modelling indicated that some enhancement appraisals predicted more beneficial outcomes. In turn, the
dispositional variables "agreeableness" and "personal growth goals" predicted the selection of more beneficial social comparison appraisals. It is concluded that although health promotion and prevention approaches might benefit from a focus on health-protective comparisons, cultural values need to be understood in greater depth and, in particular, growth goals should be fostered.