Pessimism, Reflective Planning, Self-Handicapping, Health Behaviors and Depressed Mood in Taiwanese Young Adults

Wan-Lan Chen,Ke-Ni Kao

doi:10.4236/psych.2018.913158

Abstract

Extensive research supports that pessimism leads to negative effects on health and emotions. However, there is also evidence indicating that some forms of pessimism may be adaptive for adjustment. The present study investigates the effects of pessimistic trait, reflective planning and self-handicapping on individuals’ health behavior and depressive mood. The samples comprised 322 Taiwanese young adults. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that pessimists adopting reflective planning as coping were more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors and report lower depressed mood. In contrast, pessimists adopting self-handicapping as coping were tended to engage in fewer health behaviors and report higher depressed mood. These data are interpreted as evidence that pessimism has the potential for leading to use either reflective planning or self-handicapping as coping strategies, and that the two strategies are related to different behavioral and psychological consequences. Richer understanding of the interactive effects of pessimism and coping strategies on health-related outcomes requires more objective measurement and longitudinal research design.

Highlights

IntroductionPessimistic individuals (e.g. a person who has negative expectations for upcoming events or tends to see the miserable and dark aspects of life) have more physical symptoms (Nabi et al, 2010) and are more likely to experience negative emotions (Chang & Lawrence, 2001)
Pessimism/optimism is a commonly discussed psychological theme among scholars
Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that pessimists adopting reflective planning as coping were more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors and report lower depressed mood

Summary

Introduction

Pessimistic individuals (e.g. a person who has negative expectations for upcoming events or tends to see the miserable and dark aspects of life) have more physical symptoms (Nabi et al, 2010) and are more likely to experience negative emotions (Chang & Lawrence, 2001). Chang (1996) noted that Asian Americans tended to be more pessimistic than White Americans, no differences were found regarding levels of optimism.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion