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Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

Published on: October 31, 2010

Social comparison activity in coping with HIV.

Valerian J Derlega¹, Kathryn Greene, James M Henson

¹Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA. vderlega@odu.edu

International Journal of STD & AIDS

|April 10, 2008

Summary

People with HIV sought inspiration from those doing well physically but avoided those struggling psychologically. Comparing oneself to someone coping poorly physically improved self-evaluation, aiding in HIV coping strategies.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Social Psychology
Health Psychology

Background:

Social comparison theory explains how individuals evaluate themselves by comparing to others.
Under threat, social comparison can serve distinct functions: upward affiliation for inspiration and downward evaluation for self-enhancement.
Coping with chronic illnesses like HIV involves complex psychological processes and social interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how individuals with HIV engage in social comparison under threat.
To examine preferences for upward affiliation versus downward evaluation in the context of HIV.
To understand the impact of different role models on coping with HIV.

Main Methods:

A 3x3 factorial design was employed with participants diagnosed with HIV.
Participants were randomly assigned to read one of nine vignettes describing individuals with varying HIV prognoses and psychological adjustment.
Social comparison preferences (affiliation and evaluation) and self-perceptions were measured.

Main Results:

Participants with HIV desired affiliation with targets who were physically well.
Participants with HIV avoided targets who were psychologically distressed.
Individuals with HIV evaluated their own physical condition more favorably than targets coping poorly physically.

Conclusions:

Social comparison strategies in HIV coping are selective, focusing on physical well-being for inspiration and avoiding psychological distress.
Downward comparison regarding physical health can enhance self-perceptions among individuals with HIV.
The findings highlight the importance of tailored role models in supporting individuals living with HIV.