Targets and dimensions of social comparison among people with spinal cord injury and other health problems

Abstract

The present research examined comparison targets and comparison dimensions among two Spanish samples of individuals facing serious illnesses and diseases. In Study 1, 90 older patients (mean age 66.36) with various age-related diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, indicated that they compared themselves most often with others with the same disease, next with others with another disease and least with people without health problems. They compared themselves more often on their mental state, symptoms and physical activities than on their social activities. Social comparison orientation (SCO) as an individual difference characteristic was associated with more frequent comparisons with particularly similar targets, and with more frequent comparisons of one's symptoms and physical activities. Neuroticism was correlated only with more comparisons of one's symptoms. Study 2 was conducted in a sample of 70 relatively young patients (mean age 43.97) with spinal cord injury (SCI). Overall, they compared themselves more often with others than the participants in Study 1, and they compared themselves to a similar extent with people with SCI as with people with another disease and with people without health problems. While they felt on average better off than people with other diseases and other people with SCI, people with SCI felt on average worse off than people without health problems. They compared themselves more often on physical activities than on any other dimension. Higher levels of stress and uncertainty were associated with more frequent comparisons with people without SCI, and with more frequent comparisons of one's mental state, one's symptoms and one's future perspectives. The discussion focuses on the theoretical relevance of the results for social comparison theory, and on the practical relevance of the findings for interventions.

Exploring positive adjustment in people with spinal cord injury

“…This supports findings of Schulz and Decker (1985) and Buunk et al (2006aBuunk et al ( , 2006b, who also found ill and disabled participants to view themselves as better-off than those without disability.…”

“…The use of social comparison, where people compare themselves against others in order to judge how they are faring on a dimension, such as coping with an illness or rehabilitation after an injury, also influences adjustment. Previous research has shown this relationship of social comparison to adjustment in SCI (Buunk et al, 2006a(Buunk et al, , 2006bKennedy et al, 2003) and in other illnesses, such as cancer (Taylor et al, 1984) and Ménière's disease (Dibb and Yardley, 2006). …”

A longitudinal study of skeletal muscle following spinal cord injury and locomotor training

“…2 This significantly impacts the care and lifestyle of patients and also increases their risk to develop secondary health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 3 Therefore, a major area of interest is the prevention or attenuation of muscle atrophy associated with SCI. Therapeutic interventions that focus on locomotor training have shown the potential to promote muscle plasticity in lower extremity muscles.…”

Coping strategies recalled by young adults who sustained a spinal cord injury during adolescence

“…There are numerous studies documenting social comparison with respect to coping [27][28][29][30] and especially downward contrast (a positive response to realizing others were worse-off) was reported as particularly related to constructive coping in persons with SCI. 27 'Fighting spirit' (that is, efforts to behave independently) 23 requires that the individuals think they can take control of the situation themselves and 'fight back' to make their lives better.…”