S. Robinsonwhelen et J. Kiecoltglaser, THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL VERSUS TEMPORAL COMPARISON APPRAISALS AMONG OLDER ADULTS, Journal of applied social psychology, 27(11), 1997, pp. 959-966
It has been suggested that social comparisons become less frequent and
less important to one's self-evaluation, and temporal comparisons bec
ome more frequent and more important to self-evaluation in later life.
In this study, the influence of social and temporal comparison apprai
sals on global self-ratings in 3 domains (health, income, and memory)
was assessed among individuals ranging in age from 53 to 90 years. Alt
hough social comparison appraisals were significantly related to self-
ratings in all 3 domains, temporal comparison appraisals were only rel
ated to self-rated memory. There was also no evidence that the effect
of social or temporal comparison appraisals on self-evaluations differ
ed with age among our sample of middle-aged and older adults. Social c
omparison appraisal appears to be a viable mechanism by which esteem c
an be preserved in old age, despite increasing loss and impairment.