From selfies to self-knowledge: the mediating roles of self-reflection and self-rumination on the relationship between self-presentation on Instagram and sexual identity clarity amongst sexual minority youth

Whilst initial evidence suggests that self-presentation on social media can promote sexual identity development amongst sexual minority youth, few studies have explored the psychological mechanisms underlying these effects. As self-presentation necessities introspection, this study explored whether self-reflection and self-rumination mediate the relationship between amount of self-presentation on Instagram and sexual identity clarity. We also tested whether belonging to a supportive Instagram network moderated our hypothesized model. Longitudinal survey data were collected from 724 sexual minority youth in the United States, Czech Republic, and Poland (M age = 18.54, SD =1.63), and were analysed using a multigroup mediation model. For sexual minority youth in less supportive Instagram networks, self-rumination negatively mediated the relationship between self-presentation on Instagram and sexual identity clarity. In contrast, for sexual minority youth in more supportive Instagram networks, amount of self-presentation on Instagram had a positive direct relationship with sexual identity clarity. Results demonstrate that online support plays an important role in shaping the identity implications of self-presentation on social media. In doing so, findings can inform interventions that seek to foster adaptive social media use amongst sexual minority youth.