Factors important for the measurement of social comparison in chronic illness: a mixed-methods study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine social comparison in illness using a mixed-methods approach that combined inductive exploration of how people used social comparison in this self-help group with a quantitative study of social comparison processes and their relationship to quality of life.


METHODS
The qualitative study involved 15 semi-structured interviews with people with Ménière's disease. Themes from the analysis of the interviews informed the development of the Social Comparison in Illness Scale (SCIS), which was then validated in a questionnaire study, in which participants with Ménière's disease (n = 196) completed the SCIS, the previously validated Identification/Contrast social comparison scale, and the SF-36 health status questionnaire.


RESULTS
The qualitative study uncovered a wide range of forms of social comparison, including upward, downward and lateral comparison on illness and coping dimensions, as well as comparing solely for informational purposes. The quantitative study indicated that these varied directions and dimensions of social comparison could be mapped onto five reliable categories that were related to quality of life: upward positive and downward positive comparison, upward negative and downward negative comparison, and comparing for information.


CONCLUSIONS
These analyses highlight the complexity of socially comparing in chronic illness, but also confirm the validity of the Identification/Contrast model of social comparison in this context.
Dibb
Bridget
B
School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. b.dibb@soton.ac.uk
Yardley
Lucy
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires