The Interpretation of Social Comparison and Its Relation to Life Satisfaction Among Elderly People: Does Frailty Make a Difference?

Nynke Frieswijk · B. P. Buunk · Nardi Steverink · Joris P. J. Slaets

41 citations0/0 files storedThe Journals of Gerontology Series B

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Aging and Gerontology Research Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction Aging, Health, and Disability

Abstract

We examined the interpretation of upward and downward social comparison and its effect on life satisfaction in a questionnaire study among 444 community-dwelling elderly persons with different levels of frailty. As we expected, elderly persons with higher levels of frailty were less inclined to contrast and more inclined to identify themselves with a downward comparison target. Furthermore, they were more inclined to contrast themselves with an upward comparison target, but contrary to our expectations, they were also more inclined to identify with this target. Upward identification and downward contrast related positively, whereas upward contrast and downward identification related negatively to life satisfaction. These effects existed independently of the negative effect of frailty on life satisfaction.

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References

1985The Satisfaction With Life Scale 1999Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress.1990Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation 1981Downward comparison principles in social psychology.1990Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences 1991Social comparison : contemporary theory and research 1989Social comparison activity under threat: Downward evaluation and upward contacts.1990The affective consequences of social comparison: Either direction has its ups and downs.

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