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Social Comparison in Medically High‐Risk Pregnant Women 1
Author(s) -
Dias Lynette,
Lobel Marci
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1997.tb01617.x
Subject(s) - psychology , pregnancy , interpersonal communication , distress , psychological distress , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , emotional distress , perceived control , social psychology , psychiatry , mental health , anxiety , genetics , biology
The present study examined social comparison processes in 147 pregnant women at high risk of incurring an adverse birth outcome such as fetal loss or preterm delivery. These women typically undergo physical and psychological changes which elevate uncertainty and distress. Theoretically derived hypotheses concerning the impact of threat, self‐esteem, perceived control, age, and gravidity (previous pregnancy) on social comparison were tested. Women experiencing low pregnancy‐related threat and those with higher self‐esteem were more likely to compare themselves favorably to other pregnant women. Younger women who had not been pregnant before compared most frequently; comparisons of physical state were more common than comparisons of emotional well‐being or interpersonal relationships. Results are contrasted with social comparison processes in other populations facing stressful life events.