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Elderly Wellbeing and the Psychology of Social Comparison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Carol A. Sherrard
Carol A. Sherrard
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT.
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Abstract

Twenty-two elderly retired people were interviewed for their beliefs about the sources of wellbeing in old age. Manual and Professional social class responses were compared, controlling for age, gender and health status. Respondents' free discourse was characterised by spontaneous social comparisons of the self with other people. In Social Comparison Theory, these serve as a means of self-assessment or wellbeing-enhance-ment. The comparison statements were analysed by Direction, Target, Dimension, and Wellbeing Yield. Significant class differences were apparent. Both groups compared Downward with others on the Dimensions of ageing, longevity, keeping active, security, and money. The Manual group derived less wellbeing from their Downward comparisons, many of which focused on entitlement to money benefits. The Professional group made more Upward comparisons, focusing on the younger self as Target, and yielding neutral or negative wellbeing. The predominant Upward Dimensions were perceived cognitive and physical condition. The Professionals tended to rationalise cognitive decline, but neither group showed psychological defence against physical decline, using social comparison as a means to objective self-assessment rather than self-enhancement.

Keywords

Elderlywellbeingsocial comparisonqualitativesocial class
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 341 - 356
Copyright
Copyright Cambridge University Press 1994

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