AUTHOR=Terol Cantero M. Carmen , Buunk Abraham P. , Cabrera Victor , Bernabé Miguel , Martin-Aragón Gelabert Maite 

TITLE=Profiles of Women With Fibromyalgia and Social Comparison Processes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00440

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00440

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background: Growing interest regarding chronic pain in Fibromyalgia patients, there has been a growing interest in social comparison and its influence on emotional responses. Aims: to analyze profiles in fibromyalgia patients according to pain-perceived, social comparison strategies and anxiety and depression. Methods: The sample consisted of 131 Fibromyalgia outpatients (Mean age: 50.15, SD = 11.1). Two scales were used: the Social Comparison Illness Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Two profiles were found by cluster analysis (K-means method): one (66%) with a higher level of pain-perceived, anxiety and depression and greater use of upward contrast and downward identification social comparison; and another (34%) with lower levels of pain-perceived, anxiety and depression and greater use of upward identification and downward contrast. Conclusions: These profiles underline the interest in social comparison strategies and their role in fibromyalgia.