The impact of reminiscence of socially active elderly women's
reactions to social comparisons.
Monica Reis-Bergan, Frederick X. Gibbons, Meg Gerrard, Jan Fekke
Ybema
(2000) Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22,
223-234.
The goal of the current study was to experimentally examine how
social comparisons with younger and same-age targets influence perceptions of
future well-being and mood among elderly women. In addition, we assessed
whether life satisfaction and reminiscence about a positive former self
moderated these reactions. Results indicated that reminiscence prior to
comparison with a successful, younger target improved well-being of women who
were low in life satisfaction. Also, downward comparison with a same-age target
had a more negative impact on low satisfaction women than did upward comparison
with a same-age target. The role of reminiscence in social comparison is
discussed.