BURNOUT, UNCERTAINTY, AND THE DESIRE FOR SOCIAL-COMPARISON AMONG NURSES

A study was conducted among 295 nurses to examine the interest in soci al comparison information, that is, the desire to learn more about the feelings and responses of others facing a similar situation. Occupati onal burnout, in particular emotional exhaustion, reduced personal acc omplishment and uncertainty, had independent relationships with the in terest in social comparison information. Comparison preferences were s trongly upward; there was in general a stronger preference for informa tion about others who were better off than for affiliation with such o thers. There was also a stronger preference for comparison with more e xperienced than with more competent others. However, better-off others were avoided relatively more by those high in burnout, especially by those high in reduced personal accomplishment. The results are discuss ed in the context of social comparison as a way of coping with stress, and self-improvement and self-protection as motives for social compar ison.