International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 3 > Pp. 164-167

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Original research articles

Social comparison activity in coping with HIV

Valerian J Derlega PhD ^* , Kathryn Greene PhD , James M Henson PhD ^* and Barbara A Winstead PhD ^*

^* Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, VA; Department of Communication, Rutgers University, NJ, USA

Correspondence to: Dr Valerian J Derlega, Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA Email: vderlega{at}odu.edu

Taylor and Lobel's (1989) model of social comparison processes under threat predicts that upward affiliation (a social activity) may be useful to improve the skills and to find inspiration in coping with HIV, whereas downward evaluation (a cognitive activity) may assist someone to feel better by comparing oneself to a less fortunate person. Participants with HIV were randomly assigned, using a 3 x 3 factorial design, to read one of nine vignettes about someone whose HIV medical prognosis and psychological adjustment were described as good, poor or unspecified. Participants desired upward affiliation with a target doing well physically, but they wanted to avoid a target doing poorly psychologically. Participants also evaluated their own physical condition as better than a target coping poorly physically with HIV. The results may be useful in understanding the impact of various role models in coping with HIV.

Key Words: coping with HIV • social comparison • Taylor & Lobel's social comparison model • upward affiliation • downward comparison • role models

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