SOCIAL-COMPARISON AND AFFILIATION UNDER THREAT - EFFECTS ON RECOVERY FROM MAJOR SURGERY

This study extends stress and affiliation research by examining the ef fects of preoperative roommate assignments on the affiliation patterns , preoperative anxiety, and postoperative recovery of 84 male coronary -bypass patients. Patients were assigned preoperatively to a room alon e or to a semiprivate room with a roommate who was either cardiac or n oncardiac and either preoperative or postoperative. Patients assigned to a roommate who was postoperative rather than preoperative were less anxious, were more ambulatory postoperatively, and had shorter postop erative stays. Independently, patients were more ambulatory postoperat ively and were discharged sooner if assigned to a roommate who was car diac rather than noncardiac. No-roommate patients generally had the sl owest recoveries. Affiliations reflecting cognitive clarity concerns, emotional comparison, and emotional support were examined. Theoretical implications for research involving social comparison and affiliation under threat are considered.