Social comparison activity in coping with HIV.

Taylor and Lobel's (1989) model of social comparison processes under threat predicts that upward affiliation (a social activity) may be useful to improve the skills and to find inspiration in coping with HIV, whereas downward evaluation (a cognitive activity) may assist someone to feel better by comparing oneself to a less fortunate person. Participants with HIV were randomly assigned, using a 3 x 3 factorial design, to read one of nine vignettes about someone whose HIV medical prognosis and psychological adjustment were described as good, poor or unspecified. Participants desired upward affiliation with a target doing well physically, but they wanted to avoid a target doing poorly psychologically. Participants also evaluated their own physical condition as better than a target coping poorly physically with HIV. The results may be useful in understanding the impact of various role models in coping with HIV.