The circular effects between adolescent anxiety and benign/malicious envy: evidence from a longitudinal study and experience-sampling method

BackgroundPrior research has shown a strong association between anxiety and envy (i.e. benign/malicious envy). However, empirical evidence is lacking regarding their predictive connection.AimsTo examine how benign/malicious envy impacts anxiety and how anxiety affects both types of envy respectively from a developmental viewpoint.MethodsIn Study 1, a three-wave longitudinal survey of 998 teenagers was conducted to examine the link between trait anxiety and trait benign/malicious envy. Cross-lagged panel analyses were used. In Study 2, 117 adolescents engaged in an experience-sampling method study to track their state anxiety and state benign/malicious envy. Hierarchical linear models were used.ResultsStudy 1 showed a positive bidirectional relationship between trait malicious envy and trait anxiety, a negative reciprocity between trait benign envy and trait anxiety, constituting a circular effect across time respectively. Study 2 supported the results of Study 1. The relationship between variables at the state level was consistent with that at the trait level.ConclusionBenign envy may help alleviate anxiety, while malicious envy has the opposite effect. These findings offer a reliable framework for comprehending the connection between envy and anxiety, which extends current knowledge about the development of such relations across adolescent.