The Impact of Reminiscence on Socially Active Elderly Women's Reactions to Social Comparisons

Abstract

The goal of this study was to experimentally examine how social comparison with younger and same-age targets influences perceptions of future well-being and mood among elderly women. In addition, we assessed whether life satisfaction and reminiscence about a positive former self moderated these reactions. Results indicated that reminiscence prior to comparison with a successful, younger target improved well-being of women who were low in life satisfaction. Also, downward comparison with a same-age target had a more negative impact on low-satisfaction women than did upward comparison with a same-age target. In concltision, this study suggests that reminiscing has an impact on how elderly women, especially those who are relatively dissatisfied with their current life status, respond to social comparisons.Although the media portrayal of the older woman is often that of a granny at home alone, in reality, most older women live in a social world. They spend time with other elderly individuals at senior centers, community events, and social engagements. They are also exposed to younger people on a regular basis-on TV, when shopping, and so forth. Among those elderly persons who are more active, many of their social contacts are likely to be with others who are younger. Thus, in a typical day, an elderly woman will be confronted with a variety of social comparison targets and information. She will encounter people who are adjusting well to growing older and others having trouble coping as they age, and she will meet and gain information about younger people, many of whom are doing well-better than she is on some dimensions. It is unclear what impact these social comparison targets have on elderly women. This study examines this question.Simply investigating how individuals respond to different targets (older and younger) would miss an important step in the comparison process that often occurs in daily life, however. Many older people have vivid memories of the past (Butler, 1995). When talking with others, a word or event Requests for reprints should be sent to Monica Reis-Bergan, E)epartinent of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.will remind them of their past-events, abilities, and accomplishments. The purpose of this study is to experimentally examine how different social comparison targets, inc:]uding younger targets, affect perceptions of future well-being among the elderly, and also how reminiscing about the past may play a role in this process. Ŝ OCIAL COMPARISON

Social Comparison and Affect: A Study Among Elderly Women

“…The results did not support this prediction, demonstrating instead that downward comparison produced more negative affect (and less positive affect) than did upward comparison, independently of participants' individual differences. These findings, consistent with those of Mares and Cantor (1992) and Reis-Bergan et al (2000), indicate that there is only a main effect of social comparison direction on affect and that downward comparison boosts negative affect among older adults. My results are partly consistent with both Buunk et al's (1990) model andBrandstätter's (2000) model.…”

“…Furthermore, psychologists have rarely used an experimental design to investigate the impact that social comparison among elderly adults has on their well-being, probably because of the difficulties associated with recruiting and questioning such participants (e.g., Mares & Cantor, 1992;Reis-Bergan, Gibbons, Gerrard, & Ybema, 2000), particularly men, whose average life expectancy is less than that of women.…”

“…To my knowledge, only two studies experimentally measuring the impact of the direction of comparison on seniors have indicated that downward comparison-that is, comparison with someone who is worse off-boosts negative affect (Mares & Cantor, 1992;Reis-Bergan et al, 2000). Although these results are consistent with experiments among younger individuals (e.g., Aspinwall, 1997;Buunk, Collins, Taylor, VanYperen, & Dakof, 1990;Gibbons & Buunk, 1999;Molleman, Pruyn, & Van Knippenberg, 1986;Ybema, Buunk, & Heesink, 1996), several other studies conducted with the same population of young people have yielded opposing results that suggest that downward comparison generates positive reactions after a threat.…”

Age differences in social comparison tendency and personal relative deprivation

“…One possibility is that old age might start a transition toward self-evaluation based more on one's personal past than social comparison (Suls & Mullen, 1982). Insofar as old age brings limited abilities or opportunities to engage in social comparisons, older adults might nonetheless achieve self-assessment through temporal self-comparisons (e.g., through reminiscing; Reis-Bergan, Gibbons, Gerrard, & Ybema, 2000). Such changes toward a greater preference for, or frequency of, temporal self-comparisons in older age might also underpin age differences in feelings of resentment arising from adverse social comparisons of abilities.…”

Age and Regulatory Focus Determine Preferences for Health-Related Role Models.

“…Thus, young adults may experience strong responses to comparisons with middle-aged adults. Other evidence suggests that older individuals can be affected by comparisons to younger individuals (e.g., Heckhausen & Krueger, 1993; Reis-Bergen, Gibbons, Gerrard, & Ybema, 2000). Given that individuals, both young and older, are typically exposed to potential comparison others from a wide range of ages, it will be useful in future research to examine more closely the impact of comparison targets of different ages on health-related motivation.…”