title: Social comparison and patient information: what do cancer patients want?
abstract: The present study focuses on social comparison processes among cancer patients. The sample consisted of 60 (ex-) cancer patients who participated in a course "coping with cancer". This study examined several aspects of social comparison: the need for comparison, the preferred direction of comparison and the influence of mode (information or contact seeking) and dimension (illness severity or coping) of social comparison as well as indicators of low well-being. The results show that the need for comparison is particularly enhanced among those who evaluate their own health negatively. In addition, the results show that patients prefer to receive information about others who are better off, but also want contact with others who are better off. In addition, they are specifically interested in receiving information about others who are coping better. Practical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands. f.t.c.bennenbroek@ppsw.rug.nl
authors.forename: Femke T C
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Bennenbroek
authors.forename: Bram P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Buunk
authors.forename: Karen I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Brigit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grol
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires