Cluster analysis of rural senior-housing residents’ social comparison behavior
| dc.contributor.author | Haviva, Clove | |
| dc.contributor.examiningcommittee | Chipperfield, Judith (Psychology) Menec, Verena (Community Health Sciences) | en_US |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Bailis, Daniel (Psychology) | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2013-09-11T13:57:31Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2013-09-11T13:57:31Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2013-09-11 | |
| dc.degree.discipline | Psychology | en_US |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts (M.A.) | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Social comparison influences well-being, especially during psychological threat. Social comparison outcomes have been theorized to depend on motivation, frequency, contrast versus identification, with a better- versus worse-off other. To reduce this complexity in the theory, 94 senior-housing residents were interviewed and cluster analysis was conducted. Four clusters emerged. Half the interviewees formed a cluster using only adaptive social comparison methods. Adaptives were contrasted with a cluster of indiscriminate comparers, a cluster striving for improvement, and a cluster of participants disagreeing with most questions. Clusters differed especially in patterns of downward identification, upward and downward contrast. Self-evaluation and uncertainty-reduction also differed between clusters; self-enhancement and self-improvement motivations did not. Cluster membership had no direct effect on well-being, but moderation analysis demonstrated threat-buffering of high neuroticism in the adaptive cluster. The benefits were not due to self-esteem or educational level. By separating individuals rather than behaviors, cluster analysis provides a fresh perspective. | en_US |
| dc.description.note | October 2013 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1993/22162 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en_US |
| dc.rights | open access | en_US |
| dc.subject | social comparison theory | en_US |
| dc.subject | aging | en_US |
| dc.subject | health psychology | en_US |
| dc.subject | self-enhancement | en_US |
| dc.subject | social comparison orientation | en_US |
| dc.subject | upward and downward social comparison subscales | en_US |
| dc.subject | social comparison identification-contrast scales | en_US |
| dc.subject | International Personality Item Pool | en_US |
| dc.subject | SF-8 Health Survey | en_US |
| dc.subject | statistical moderation | en_US |
| dc.title | Cluster analysis of rural senior-housing residents’ social comparison behavior | en_US |
| dc.type | master thesis | en_US |
| local.subject.manitoba | yes | en_US |