title: Targeting cancer patients' quality of life through social comparison: a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Former cancer patients' quality of life can be improved by offering social comparison information. Whether patients, however, benefit from the information may depend on how negative they perceive their present and their future.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomised experimental field study with a pre- and post-measurement. Dutch former cancer patients - recruited through different media - were assigned to a social comparison intervention condition or a no-intervention control condition (experimental condition n = 62; control condition n = 88; Mage = 52 years). In the intervention condition, patients received a 20 min computer-tailored interview in audio format. Patients' present perceived life threat and future health expectations were measured at pretest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of life and life satisfaction after 2 months were the outcome variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention increased life satisfaction only in patients who experienced a high present life threat ([Formula: see text] = .08) and in patients who had negative future health expectations, the intervention increased quality of life ([Formula: see text] = .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not all patients did benefit from the intervention; for some patients, the social comparison intervention was even detrimental. Moderator analyses seem necessary to evaluate psycho-social interventions for cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Behavioral and Social Science, Department of Social Psychology , University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thecla M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brakel
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Abraham P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Buunk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer survivors; life satisfaction; psychosocial intervention; quality of life; social comparison information