Social comparison in the workplace: A study of 60 dual-career couples

This study assessed the extent to which job factors (income, prestige, and gender integration), family factors (earnings relative to spouse, parental status), work goals, and Personality attributes predicted men's and women's social comparisons and perceptions of faring at work. Respondents were 60 men and 60 women in high-achieving, somewhat male-dominated positions. Men reported more same-sex and fewer cross-sex comparisons than women did. Overall, however, almost half of the respondents said they compared predominantly with others of both sexes. There was no relationship between sex of comparison other and comparison direction. The best predictors of sex of comparison were respondent sex and income. The best predictor of comparison direction was parental status. Autonomy, dominance, and achievement striving was the best predictor of perceptions of work faring.