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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Social comparison and affect: a study among elderly women.

Nicolas Michinov1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France. nicolas.michinov@univ-poitiers.fr

The Journal of Social Psychology
|July 3, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Elderly women in senior centers experienced more negative emotions from downward social comparison, regardless of their personal sense of control or comparison tendencies. Upward comparison led to more positive affect, highlighting the impact of social comparison direction on aging well.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Gerontology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Elderly individuals often face significant life transitions, such as moving to senior centers.
  • Social comparison is a key psychological process influencing well-being, particularly in older adults.
  • Individual differences in sense of control and social comparison orientation may moderate affective responses to social comparison.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the affective reactions of elderly women in senior centers to social comparison.
  • To examine whether individual difference variables (sense of control, social comparison orientation) interact with social comparison direction (upward vs. downward) to influence affect.
  • To understand the role of social comparison in the psychological adjustment to aging and senior living.

Main Methods:

  • Participants: Elderly women recently moved to senior centers.
  • Procedure: Assessed individual difference variables and participants' affect following social comparison.
  • Analysis: Examined main effects and interactions between social comparison direction and individual differences on affect.

Main Results:

  • Social comparison direction significantly impacted affect, independent of individual differences.
  • Downward social comparison resulted in more negative affect and less positive affect compared to upward comparison.
  • No significant interaction effects were found between individual difference variables and social comparison direction.

Conclusions:

  • The direction of social comparison is a primary determinant of affect in elderly women transitioning to senior centers.
  • Downward comparisons are associated with poorer emotional outcomes, while upward comparisons are linked to better outcomes.
  • Findings offer insights into the social psychology of aging and inform interventions to promote positive adjustment in senior living environments.