SOCIAL AND TEMPORAL COMPARISONS IN ADJUSTMENT TO AGING

In this descriptive study we investigated the relationship of social p sychological processes to older adults' self-esteem. A modified semist ructured interview format that assessed social and temporal comparison s, serf-esteem, and self-rated adjustment to aging was administered to 70 male and female community residents of Southern California. The ma jority of participants reported downward social comparisons by describ ing themselves as being relatively advantaged compared with their age peers. Also, participants tended to report downward temporal compariso ns that reflected growth or stable temporal comparisons that reflected continuity across time. Results are discussed in light of their impli cations for Festinger's (1954) social comparison theory, Albert's (197 7) temporal comparison theory, and the use of social psychological pro cesses as mechanisms for self-enhancement in healthy aging.