Optimism, Motivational Coping and Well-being: Evidence Supporting the Importance of Flexible Goal Adjustment

M M Hanssen,E G W Schouten,A F Hayes,L M G Vancleef,J W S Vlaeyen,M L Peters

doi:10.1007/s10902-014-9572-x

Abstract

It has repeatedly been shown that dispositional optimism, a generalized positive outcome expectancy, is associated with greater physical and psychological well-being. Coping has been proposed to mediate this purportedly causal relationship. From an expectancy-value perspective on motivation, optimists’ confidence leads them to tenaciously pursue goals. However, the ability to flexibly adjust goals might serve optimists’ ability to deal with adversity particularly well. This study investigated motivational coping (tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment) as the mechanism linking dispositional optimism to several indices of well-being (general well-being, depression, anxiety and physical complaints) by means of a questionnaire study in the general population. Results of this study confirmed that motivational coping—primarily in the form of flexible goal adjustment—mediates the relationship between optimism and all indices of well-being except physical complaints. Furthermore, coping by flexibly adjusting one’s goals is generally a more prominent pathway to well-being than tenaciously pursuing those goals.

Highlights

The role personality plays in determining well-being has long been a topic of interest in psychological research (Caspi et al 2005)
This study investigates the role of motivational coping in the association between dispositional optimism and well-being
We hypothesized that dispositional optimism is related to indices of well-being and that these relationships are mediated by flexible goal adjustment and tenacious goal pursuit

Summary

Introduction

The role personality plays in determining well-being has long been a topic of interest in psychological research (Caspi et al 2005). S. Vlaeyen Research Group Health Psychology, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium. Hayes Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA defined in various ways (Ryan and Deci 2001). One personality factor that seems inextricably linked with greater well-being in a broad sense is optimism (Carver et al 1994; Carver et al 2010; Rasmussen et al 2009; Scheier and Carver 1992). In times of adversity, such as in response to chronic injuries, diseases or medical procedures, optimists consistently report fewer psychological and physical complaints (Carver et al 2010; Rasmussen et al 2009). Coping has been proposed as a potential mediator of these relationships (Carver et al 2010; Scheier and Carver 1985, 1992; Scheier et al 1986)

Methods

Results

Conclusion