By interacting with others who are perceived to be better than them, peers are given a sense of optimism and something to strive toward. 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Individuals are attracted to others who share commonalities with themselves, such as psychiatric disorders, in order to establish a sense of normalcy.

Social comparison theory

Solomon, P. (2004). Peer support/peer provided services underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal, 27(4), 392. https://doi.org/10.2975/27.2004.392.401

Peer support/peer provided services underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients.

Upward comparison

Downward comparison to those who seem so much worse off than them puts in perspective how bad things could be for them. 

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