Social comparison theory provides the theoretical foundation for this study. This theory suggests that people have an intrinsic need to compare themselves with others for the purpose of self-evaluation (Festinger 1954). In order to obtain a more accurate self-evaluation,individuals are more likely to compare themselves to others who are similar to themselves in certain aspects,such as age and gender (Wood 1989). Depending on the comparison target’s status, individuals may engage in either upward social comparison, when the comparison target is believed to be superior to oneself, or downward social comparison, when the comparison target is believed to be inferior to oneself (Wood 1989).