TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Comparison Preferences among Cancer Patients as Related to Neuroticism and Social Comparison Orientation
AU - Van der Zee, K.I.
AU - Oldersma, Frans
AU - Buunk, Bram P.
AU - Bos, Dianne
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Effects of neuroticism and social comparison orientation on social comparison among cancer patients were examined. A computer program that enabled patients to access information about fellow patients' disease-related experiences was developed. Patients selected more interviews concerning more as compared to less fortunate others, spent more time reading, and showed more favorable reactions to such information. Individuals with a strong comparison orientation in particular tended to engage in and to respond to social comparison. Neuroticism was associated with higher interest in social comparison and with less favorable reactions, regardless of its direction. High-neurotic individuals reacted more positively to upward than to downward comparisons, whereas the reactions of low-neurotic individuals were unaffected by comparison direction. The latter effect was replicated using a general affect measure, but solely among individuals with a strong comparison orientation.
AB - Effects of neuroticism and social comparison orientation on social comparison among cancer patients were examined. A computer program that enabled patients to access information about fellow patients' disease-related experiences was developed. Patients selected more interviews concerning more as compared to less fortunate others, spent more time reading, and showed more favorable reactions to such information. Individuals with a strong comparison orientation in particular tended to engage in and to respond to social comparison. Neuroticism was associated with higher interest in social comparison and with less favorable reactions, regardless of its direction. High-neurotic individuals reacted more positively to upward than to downward comparisons, whereas the reactions of low-neurotic individuals were unaffected by comparison direction. The latter effect was replicated using a general affect measure, but solely among individuals with a strong comparison orientation.
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U2 - 10.1037/0022-3514.75.3.801
DO - 10.1037/0022-3514.75.3.801
M3 - Review article
C2 - 9781413
AN - SCOPUS:0032160510
VL - 75
SP - 801
EP - 810
JO - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
SN - 0022-3514
IS - 3
ER -