Table 2.
Types of comparison and their impact on connection
| Types of comparison | Impact on connection + = positive impact - = negative impact |
|---|---|
| Shared Experiences | |
| Recognising shared experiences | |
| Coping strategies | +/− |
| Emotional experiences | + |
| Meaningful participation | +/− |
| Mental health support | +/− |
| Past experience or previous self | +/− |
| Progress in recovery | +/− |
| Relationships | +/− |
| Stage of Recovery | |
| Comparison in stage of recovery | |
| Upward comparison | +/− |
| Downward comparison | + |
| Narrator Characteristics | |
| Similarities in characteristics | |
| Age | +/− |
| Gender | +/− |
| Life experiences | +/− |
| Diagnosis | +/− |
| Thought processes | +/− |
| Country | +/− |
| Personal background | +/− |
| Culture and Religion | +/− |