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Patient affiliation in major illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Yacov Rofé*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Michael Hoffman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Isaac Lewin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr Y. Rosé, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, 52 100 Ramat-Gan, Israel

Synopsis

Affiliation preferences among 100 Israeli out-patients with major illness were assessed in waiting room interviews. Patients preferred healthy others over being with fellow sufferers or alone, and avoided illness as a discussion topic. Secondary preference for being alone rather than with co-patients rose slightly with reported anxiety. Findings contradict the emotional comparison hypothesis that misery seeks out co-sufferers.

Type
Brief Communication
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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