The relevance of social comparison processes for prevention and health care

  • BP Buunk*
  • , FX Gibbons
  • , A Visser
  • *Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    30 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Social comparison refers to drawing conclusions about one’s own actual or potential characteristics on the basis of the characteristics of actual or imagined other individuals. For example, healthy individuals may think that their risk of getting cancer is low, because their life style is healthier than that of similar others; hospital patients facing surgery may become less nervous when they compare their own feelings with those of other patients; and individuals with a chronic disease may become worried about their future when they meet others whose disease has progressed further. In this issue Bennenbroek et al. [1] present the results of a study among cancer patients about social comparison and their need for information. It is shown that the need for comparison is particularly enhanced among those who evaluate their own health negatively. Further, patients prefer to receive information about others who are better off, and also want contact with other who are better off. The results fit in the tradition of social comparison studies.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberPII S0738-3991(20)00054-X
    Pages (from-to)1-3
    Number of pages3
    JournalPatient Education and Counseling
    Volume47
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May-2002

    Keywords

    • AFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES
    • INFORMATION
    • PSYCHOLOGY
    • DIRECTION
    • BEHAVIOR
    • WOMEN
    • MEN

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