Optimism, pessimism, affectivity, and psychological adjustment in US and Korea: a test of a mediation model

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that cognitive and affective variables play an important role in models of psychological adjustment. However, the examination of such variables across different cultural groups has remained a neglected issue. Accordingly, this study assessed the role of outcome expectancies (optimism and pessimism) and affectivity (positive and negative affect) as predictors of psychological adjustment (life satisfaction and depressive symptoms) in a sample of 294 South Korean and 320 European American college students. Consistent with the mapping of self-criticism and self-enhancement to Easterners and Westerners, respectively, Koreans compared to European Americans were found to report greater negative affectivity and depressive symptoms. In contrast, European Americans compared to Koreans were found to report greater positive affectivity and life satisfaction. Moreover, results of path analyses examining a model of affectivity as a mediator of the link between outcome expectancies and psychological adjustment provided additional evidence for cultural differences. Implications of the present findings for understanding psychological adjustment in Easterners versus Westerners are discussed.