Abstract
Three studies explored the coping benefits and limitations of stories people hear about others undergoing similar stressful events. In Study One, cancer patients reported that positive stories about other patients were preferable to and more helpful than negative stories, yet negative stories were more commonly told. Study Two manipulated the valence and source of stories told to college students facing midterm exams. Stories with positive endings and those relayed by expert sources were regarded more positively than negative stories and those told by nonexperts. Study Three manipulated the valence and informativeness of stories in a similar college sample. Positive and informative stories were rated more favorably, although these effects were independent of each other. Implications for social comparison and social support are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 703-733 |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Social Psychology |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1993 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
Cite this
Storytelling and Coping With Stressful Events. / Taylor, Shelley E.; Aspinwall, Lisa G.; Giuliano, Traci A.; Dakof, Gayle A; Reardon, Kathleen K.
In: Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1993, p. 703-733.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Storytelling and Coping With Stressful Events
AU - Taylor, Shelley E.
AU - Aspinwall, Lisa G.
AU - Giuliano, Traci A.
AU - Dakof, Gayle A
AU - Reardon, Kathleen K.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - Three studies explored the coping benefits and limitations of stories people hear about others undergoing similar stressful events. In Study One, cancer patients reported that positive stories about other patients were preferable to and more helpful than negative stories, yet negative stories were more commonly told. Study Two manipulated the valence and source of stories told to college students facing midterm exams. Stories with positive endings and those relayed by expert sources were regarded more positively than negative stories and those told by nonexperts. Study Three manipulated the valence and informativeness of stories in a similar college sample. Positive and informative stories were rated more favorably, although these effects were independent of each other. Implications for social comparison and social support are discussed.
AB - Three studies explored the coping benefits and limitations of stories people hear about others undergoing similar stressful events. In Study One, cancer patients reported that positive stories about other patients were preferable to and more helpful than negative stories, yet negative stories were more commonly told. Study Two manipulated the valence and source of stories told to college students facing midterm exams. Stories with positive endings and those relayed by expert sources were regarded more positively than negative stories and those told by nonexperts. Study Three manipulated the valence and informativeness of stories in a similar college sample. Positive and informative stories were rated more favorably, although these effects were independent of each other. Implications for social comparison and social support are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991176419&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84991176419&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01111.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01111.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84991176419
VL - 23
SP - 703
EP - 733
JO - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
SN - 0021-9029
IS - 9
ER -