The Big Five and identification–contrast processes in social comparison in adjustment to cancer treatment
✍ Scribed by Karen I. Van Der Zee; Bram P. Buunk; Robbert Sanderman; Gerrit Botke; Fons Van Den Bergh
- Book ID
- 101282189
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 183 KB
- Volume
- 13
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0890-2070
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The present study examined the relationship between social comparison processes and the Big Five personality factors. In a sample of 112 patients with various forms of cancer it was found that Neuroticism was associated with a tendency to focus on the negative interpretation of social comparison information that expressed itself in identi®cation with fellow patients who were doing worse. This identi®cation process also seemed to mediate the (negative) relationship between Neuroticism and post-treatment feelings of mastery and uncertainty. No relationship was found between Neuroticism and the tendency to contrast one's situation against the situation of others who are doing better. Unexpectedly, Extraversion was most strongly related to a tendency to contrast one's situation against the situation of fellow patients who are doing better. Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Intellect/Autonomy were unrelated to social comparison. The therapeutical implications of the ®ndings for cancer patients are discussed.