Social comparison and coping with cancer treatment

In the present study scales were developed as indicators of four social comparison processes of respectively identification with others who are either doing better or worse and contrasting one's situation against the situation of either upward or downward comparison others. In a sample of 112 cancer patients, support was obtained for the validity of these scales. First, the internal consistency and stability of the scales were high. Interestingly, higher order factor analyses showed two basic factors labeled 'positive interpretation' (encompassing upward identification and downward contrast) versus 'negative interpretation' (encompassing upward contrast and downward identification). In addition, it was shown that the tendency to identify oneselves with others who are doing better and to contrast oneselves against others who are doing worse were moderately but significantly associated with a basic tendency to engage in confrontive coping styles, such as reinterpretation/growth, social support and active coping. The theoretical significance as well as the therapeutic implications of the findings are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.