Dispositional Optimism Research Articles

Comparative optimism in older adults' future health expectations.

Despite a common belief that health declines with age, many older adults remain optimistic about their future health. However, the longitudinal impact of personal and comparatively optimistic future health estimates (FHEs) is unclear. Among 408 older adults (Mage =70.32years), this study identified the prevalence, source, and two-year stability of comparatively optimistic FHEs; examined demographic, psychosocial, and health correlates of comparative FHEs; and assessed the role of comparative FHEs in predicting eight-year survival odds. Nearly half of participants were comparatively optimistic due to interpersonal pessimism more so than personal optimism. Regarding stability, comparative optimism declined over the two-year period. Being younger and having more perceived control, dispositional optimism, and recent positive emotions were associated with better FHEs for oneself and a similar other. Beyond effects of age, gender, relationship status, and dispositional optimism, optimistic personal FHEs predicted eight-year survival odds. Findings have implications for predicting survival and advancing the conceptual understanding of comparative FHEs. Statement of contribution What is already known on the subject? Previous research has demonstrated that older adults tend to believe diminished health accompanies increasing age. Despite this notion, older adults remain comparatively optimistic about their health. What does this study add? The longitudinal results of the current study indicated that nearly half of participants were categorized as comparative optimists, primarily due to interpersonal pessimism. The current study demonstrated that there is little distinction between personal FHEs and those for a similar other in terms of demographic, psychosocial, and health correlates. The current study identified factors that predicted eight-year survival among older adults, such as being female, younger, in a committed relationship, and better personal FHEs.

Dispositional Optimism and Well-Being in College Students: Self-Efficacy as a Mediator

We used the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Life Orientation Test Revised, and the Revised Oxford Happiness Scale to investigate the correlations among dispositional optimism, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being in 2,578 college students. The results showed that self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, and well-being were significantly positively correlated with one another. In addition, the influence of dispositional optimism on subjective well-being was partially mediated by self-efficacy, with the mediating effect accounting for 31.6% of the total effect.

Estudiantes Del Título Superior De Música De Viento Madera. Relación Entre Los Niveles Motivacionales Y El Optimismo Disposicional

The motivation and the dispositional optimism are two constructs that in the population of musicians in training have not yet been taken into account in order to their scientific study. However, we present an approach to the problem, adapting it to the musical contexts, based on the motivational model proposed by Manassero and Vázquez (1998); the motivational factors are the interest, effort, perfectionism, the specific demands of the task and the exams. At the same time, taking as valid the approach to the model of optimism from Carver, Scheier and Segerstrom (2010), in which the optimistic tendency is defined as a belief that each person has in his life towards the experience good experiences, significant relationships have been found between the different motivational factors and optimism; at the same time and with regression techniques it has been possible to explain 29.4% of the variance of the general factor of optimism with only the significant presence in the model of the specific factor of the task. In this sense, more research is needed to increase the knowledge of both constructs for the improvement of pedagogical practice in higher musical training centers.

Determinants of illness-specific social support and its relation to distress in long-term melanoma survivors

BackgroundSocial support is considered to be one of the most important resources for coping with cancer. However, social interactions may also be detrimental, e. g. disappointing or discouraging. The present study explored: 1. the extent of illness-specific positive aspects of social support and detrimental interactions in melanoma survivors, 2. their relationships to mental health characteristics (e. g. distress, quality of life, fatigue, coping processes, and dispositional optimism) and 3. Combinations of positive social support and detrimental interactions in relation to depression and anxiety.MethodsBased on the cancer registry of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, melanoma patients diagnosed at least 5 years before the survey were contacted by their physicians. N = 689 melanoma patients filled out the Illness-specific Social Support Scale ISSS (German version) and standardised instruments measuring potential psychosocial determinants of social support.ResultsUsing principal component analysis, the two factor structure of the ISSS could be reproduced with acceptable reliability; subscales were “Positive Support” (PS) and “Detrimental Interactions” (DI); Cronbach’s α = .95/.72. PS was rated higher than DI. Multivariable linear regressions identified different associations with psychosocial determinants. Survivors living in a partnership and those actively seeking out support had a higher probability of receiving PS, but not DI. PS and DI interacted regarding their association with distress: Survivors reporting high DI but low PS were the most depressed and anxious. High DI was partly buffered by PS. When DI was low, high or low PS made no difference regarding distress.ConclusionPsycho-oncologic interventions should take into account both positive and negative aspects of support in order to promote coping with the disease.

Associations of early childhood adversities with mental disorders, psychological functioning, and suitability for psychotherapy in adulthood

Childhood adversities frequently precede adulthood depression and anxiety. Yet, how they impact needed treatment duration, type or focus in these common disorders, is unclear. For developing more individualized and precise interventions, we investigated whether specific early adversities associate with patients’ distinct psychiatric problems, psychological vulnerabilities, and suitability for psychotherapy. A total of 221 depressed and anxious adult outpatients (excluding psychotic, severe personality, bipolar, and substance abuse disorders) referred from community, student, occupational, and private healthcare services filled the Childhood Family Atmosphere Questionnaire (CFAQ). They also filled self-reports on interpersonal behavior and problems, perceived competence, dispositional optimism, sense of coherence, defenses, and psychiatric history. Clinicians assessed the patients’ symptomatology, personality, object relations, cognitive performance, and psychotherapy suitability. Regression analyses were conducted. Childhood adversities predicted both worse current psychological functioning (e.g., interpersonal problems), and better clinician-rated capacities for benefiting from psychotherapy (e.g. self-reflection, capacity for interaction). Parental problems had the most numerous negative associations to psychological functioning. Best capacities for psychotherapy were predicted by recollected family unhappiness. Associations with psychiatric criteria were, however, largely non-significant. In conclusion, for psychosocial treatment planning, patients’ early adversities may indicate both vulnerability and resources. As childhood adversities are frequent among treatment-seekers, further studies examining how early adversities predict psychotherapy outcome are needed.

Individuals' Perspectives on Coping with Vision Loss from Diabetic Retinopathy.

People with vision loss from diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) use problem-focused and emotion-regulation strategies that may influence their short- and longer-term adaptation and psychological outcomes. Our findings can assist the development of models of adjustment to DR/DME-related vision loss and treatments focused on adaptation. To qualitatively determine the coping strategies used by participants with vision loss resulting from DR/DME. Fifty-seven participants with DR/DME engaged in one of eight focus groups or one of 18 semistructured interviews. Participants were mostly older than 55 years (mean, 58.7 years) and male (68%) and had type 2 diabetes (74%; median duration, 17 years). Almost 50% had proliferative DR, 95% had undergone laser treatment, and 42% had DME; 68%, 14% and 14% had none, mild (<0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ≤ 0.48), and moderate-severe vision impairment (>0.48 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) in the better eye. Focus groups/interviews were transcribed verbatim and iteratively analyzed using the constant comparative method. Qualitative software NVivo 2008 was used to sort/store the data. Our top-down and bottom-up approach to conceptualize the data was informed by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Coping efforts were mostly problem focused (64%) with seven subthemes: problem solving, passive coping, changing activities to suit a new ability level, active coping, rehearsing alternative outcomes, maintaining independence, and information seeking. Emotion-regulation strategies were distraction, acceptance, alternative adaptive thinking, avoidance, expressing emotions, denial, and changing emotions. Meaning-based coping strategies included mindfulness and engaging in meaningful activities. Themes relating to adaptation and moderators to coping (e.g., dispositional optimism) are outlined. Participants described a variety of ways to cope. Some strategies are likely to improve functioning and decrease distress, whereas others are expected to reduce immediate distress while perpetuating this in the longer term. Our findings may assist researchers to develop models of adjustment to DR/DME-related vision loss and psychosocial/educational interventions focused on adaptation.

Psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), derived from a large German community sample.

The aim of this study was to test psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), to provide normative values, and to analyze associations between life satisfaction and sociodemographic and behavioral data. A German community sample (n = 9711) with an age range of 18-80years was surveyed using the SWLS and several other questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the dimensionality of the SWLS. Invariance across gender and age groups was tested with multiple-group CFA. Associations between SWLS, sociodemographic variables, and behavioral variables were tested with ANOVAs. Confirmatory factorial analysis results confirmed that the SWLS is a one-dimensional scale. Measurement invariance across gender was completely confirmed, while concerning age strict measurement invariance was confirmed. The effects of gender and age on satisfaction with life were weak. Satisfaction with life was associated with fatigue (r = - .49), the mental component of quality of life (r = .45), anxiety (r = - .42), dispositional optimism (r = .41), pessimism (r = - .34), sleep quality (r = - .32), and sociodemographic factors such as marital status, income, and occupational status. Non-smokers reported higher life satisfaction than smokers. Because of the good psychometric properties, the SWLS can be recommended for use in epidemiological research. Normative values based on a large community sample are provided.

Resiliencia, optimismo y burnout académico en estudiantes universitarios

En este estudio se analiza la relación entre la resiliencia, el optimismo disposicional y las dimensiones que constituyen el burnout académico (agotamiento emocional, cinismo y baja eficacia). Para ello, se evaluó a una muestra formada por 463 estudiantes de la Universidad de León. Se emplearon los siguientes instrumentos: Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (10-item CD-RISC) y Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R). Los resultados revelan que el burnout académico se relaciona significativamente con la resiliencia y el optimismo. Concretamente, la resiliencia se relaciona positivamente con la eficacia mientras que el optimismo se relaciona positivamente con la eficacia pero negativamente con el agotamiento. Además, la resiliencia predice la eficacia mientras que el optimismo predice el agotamiento. Sin embargo, el cinismo no se relaciona ni con la resiliencia ni con el optimismo. Por último, se contemplan las implicaciones de los resultados obtenidos para el diseño de programas de prevención del burnout académico en estudiantes universitarios.

A moderated mediation model of the relationship between quality of social relationships and internet addiction: mediation by loneliness and moderation by dispositional optimism

The current study aimed to develop and examine a moderated mediation model between quality of social relationships and Internet addiction, with dispositional optimism as a moderator, and loneliness as a mediator. A sample of 1341 college students from 4 universities in mainland China completed a self-report battery that included measures of quality of social relationships, dispositional optimism, emotional and social loneliness, and Internet addiction. Findings indicated that 1) Quality of social relationships was a strong predictor of Internet addiction; 2) Loneliness partially mediated the association between quality of social relationships and Internet addiction; and 3) Dispositional optimism buffered the negative effect of quality of social relationships, and such that the indirect effect between quality of social relationships and Internet addiction via loneliness was stronger for low optimists. The results were discussed to illuminate the mechanism in relation to theoretical and practical implication for the prevention and early detection of Internet addiction.

Testing the generality of the general factor of personality: An exploratory bifactor approach

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the psychometric properties of the general factor of personality (GFP) obtained through self-reported measures support its interpretation as a substantive dimension of general order. MethodWe estimated oblique and orthogonal bifactor exploratory structural equation models of the Big Five. ResultsThe GFP explained considerably less variance than the five group factors and showed poor model-based reliability. The pattern of GFP loadings was consistent with those of a reverse-keyed wording factor. When related to an external variable (dispositional optimism) the GFP was primarily associated to method variance, and not to the substantive criterion. ConclusionsAlthough there is a certain degree of variance common to most behavioral indicators of personality, its properties are not compatible with an interpretation of the GFP as a reliable and psychometrically meaningful general factor of personality.

Different Conceptualizations of Optimism/Pessimism and Their Relationship with Physical and Mental Health and Health-Related Behaviors

There are practically no studies on the relationship between defensive pessimism and health. The objectives are (i) To examine the relationship between dispositional optimism and physical and mental health, and also between health behaviors, and (ii) To determine possible differences in physical and mental health, and health behaviors, exploring three different conceptualizations of optimism/pessimism.

Association of dispositional optimism with Life’s Simple 7’s Cardiovascular Health Index: results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study (SCAS)

ObjectivesMounting evidence links positive psychological functioning to restorative health processes and favourable medical outcomes. However, very little is known about the relationship between optimism, an indicator of psychological functioning and...

Positive Optimism and Palliative Chemotherapy: Does It Really Effect Symptom Burden? (S757)

•Better communication•Analysis on multiple occasions Optimism, a positive trait of human personality, has been linked to lower pain level and psychological stress in patients with chronic illness. The purpose of this study is to determine correlation between dispositional optimism and symptom burden in palliative care (PC) patients. We hypothesize that higher dispositional optimism equates to lower symptom burden. Dispositional Optimism scores were measured using the revised “Life Orientation Test” (LOT-R) in a set of PC male patients (ages 30-89) in VA PC clinics. LOTR scores were correlated against “Edmonton Symptom Assessment Score” (ESAS). Age, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, and presence of depression data was collected. Differences in LOTR and ESAS scores were measured among variables. Cronbach alpha of >0.85 for survey was used. Participants (N= 34) were 82% >60 years old, 76% Caucasian, and 67% Non-Hispanic/Latino. Seventeen participants had cancer, 3 COPD, 1 CHF, 3 ESRD, and 8 other terminal diseases. Optimism scores were higher in non-white (18 vs.14, P=0.04) and cancer (16 vs.13, P= 0.04). Optimism was higher in cancer with chemotherapy vs. without (19 vs. 13, P=0.004) but no significant difference in ESAS (32 vs. 38). There was a nonsignificant negative correlation between LOTR vs. ESAS and PHQ2 vs. optimism scores. A strong positive correlation was found between PHQ2 and ESAS (P=0.001). In PC patients, symptom burden did not correlate with optimism. Results support a model in which optimism is a variable trait affected by external factors. Specifically, higher optimism in non-white patients may be attributed to spiritual/cultural differences. Higher optimism in cancer patients versus chronic diseases may be attributed to perceived curative potential and availability of therapeutic options. This suggests the need for improved communication with patients throughout the course of their disease. Higher symptom burden is correlated with increased depression as expected.

Integrating situation-specific dysfunctional expectations and dispositional optimism into the cognitive model of depression – A path-analytic approach

BackgroundDysfunctional expectations are considered to be core features of mental disorders and, in particular, major depression. The aim of the present study was to integrate two important types of expectations into the cognitive model of depression: situation-specific dysfunctional expectations (SDE) and dispositional optimism (DO). It was hypothesized that the influence of both DO and intermediate beliefs (IB) on depressive symptoms would be mediated via SDE. MethodsWe examined 95 individuals (age M = 40.7, 68.1% female) with a diagnosed major depressive disorder from two inpatient clinics and one outpatient clinic. Measurements used in the study included the Depressive Expectations Scale, Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, Life Orientation Test Revised, and Beck's Depression Inventory-II. Relationships between the constructs were analyzed using path-analytic models with bias-corrected bootstrapping confidence intervals. ResultsResults indicate that the effect of IB on depressive symptoms was fully mediated via SDE, while the effect of DO on depressive symptoms was partly mediated via SDE. IB and DO moderately correlated with each other. LimitationsDue to the cross-sectional design of the study, it is not possible to draw unambiguous conclusions regarding the causality of the suggested relationships. ConclusionsThe present study stresses the crucial role of dysfunctional expectations for major depression. Moreover, it reveals that SDEs as expectations with a high level of situational specificity may pose an important link between global cognitions and depressive symptoms. Given this situational specificity, SDEs are amenable to disconfirmation through behavioral experiments and may therefore be a promising target for cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Neural correlates of dispositional pessimism and optimism on dual-task performance

Objective: Behavioral studies found that dispositional pessimism (DP) impairs cognitive task performance (i.e. dual task) such as in dual task processing as compared to dispositional optimism (DO). However, neuroanatomical corre-lates of these performance decrements are still unknown. Therefore, the current study aims at investigating neural correlates of pessimism and optimism on dual task performance. Methods: To test for this, two hundred participants were screened to create extreme groups of DP (i.e. 10 participants) and DO (11 participants) based on Life Orien-tation Test (LOT). The participants performed auditory and visual single tasks and dual tasks while their brain activity by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was recorded. Results: Behavioral results showed that the groups have similar performance on single task performance whereas DP group slowed down on dual task performance as compared to DO group. Imaging results showed that DP group showed less dual task specific activations in inferior parietal and occipital cortices particularly in posterior cingulate gyrus, extending into precuneus and cuneus. Discussion: It has been concluded that DP impairs cognitive processing on dual task performance and this impairment accompanied by reduced activation in parietal and occipital cortices as compared to DO.

Momentary Affect and the Optimism-Health Relationship

Abstract. The aim of this intensive longitudinal study was to examine the moderating effect of affect on the optimism-health relationship and to separately consider valence and arousal, the basic dimensions of affect. For 14 days 45 students answered three times a day a questionnaire regarding affect and health status. Valence interacts with optimism in the prediction of health and tense arousal moderates the pessimism-health relationship. Findings provide support for the relevance of a two-factor model of dispositional optimism and the importance of separate consideration of the basic affect dimensions in the understanding of the processes between optimism and health.

Crushing Hope: Short Term Responses to Tragedy Vary by Hopefulness

This research note explores the consequences of dispositional optimism and hopefulness when the environment changes. Much literature has documented the importance of a positive outlook in pursuing investments in health and education that pay off in the future. A question that has received less attention is whether a positive outlook creates resilience in the face of setbacks or whether a positive outlook may be a disadvantage in extreme circumstances, especially when there is a large mismatch between expectations and reality. This paper uses the coincidental interview schedule of the Add Health data (N=15,024) around the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 to examine interactions with this environmental shock and previously elicited measures of hopefulness. The results suggest that increases in depressive symptoms following the attack are concentrated among those young adults who initially expressed the most hopefulness in the future as teenagers.

Optimism and quality of life in patients with heart failure

Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of patients with heart failure (HF) is low despite the aim of HF treatment to improve HR-QoL. To date, most studies have focused on medical and physical factors in relation to HR-QoL, few data are available on the role of emotional factors such as dispositional optimism. This study examines the prevalence of optimism and pessimism in HF patients and investigates how optimism and pessimism are associated with different patient characteristics and HR-QoL. Dispositional optimism was assessed in 86 HF patients (mean age 70 ± 9 years, 28% female, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 33%) with the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). HR-QoL was assessed with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and the EuroQol. The (mean ± SD) total score on the LOT-R was 14.6 ± 2.9 (theoretical range 0-24) and the scores on the subscales optimism and pessimism were 8.1 ± 1.9 and 5.5 ± 2.5, respectively. Higher age was related to more optimism (r = 0.22, p &lt; 0.05), and optimism was associated with higher generic HR-QoL (B = 0.04, p &lt; 0.05).Significance of resultsThe association found between optimism and generic HR-QoL of HF patients can lead to promising strategies to improve HF patients' HR-QoL, particularly because the literature has indicated that optimism is a modifiable condition.

Research on Operational Disposition Optimization of Communications Jammers Based on Assignment Problem

Research on Operational Disposition Optimization of Communications Jammers Based on Assignment Problem

The relation of physical self-perceptions of competence, goal orientation, and optimism with students' performance calibration in physical education

Two studies were conducted to examine associations between students' calibration accuracy with their self-perceptions of competence (i.e., global self-worth, sport competence, perceived competence, and self-efficacy), goal orientation, and dispositional optimism and pessimism. Participants were 138 (study 1) and 236 (study 2) fifth and sixth grade students. An index of absolute accuracy of performance prediction was calculated based on students' predicted and actual performance in a basketball shooting test. Person-related factors were measured with self-reported questionnaires. Results showed no associations between absolute accuracy and students' global self-worth, sport competence, optimism and pessimism (study 1) while students' absolute accuracy was associated with their task orientation, self-efficacy, and perceived competence (study 2). An overconfidence effect was also found in both studies. These results were discussed with reference to previous evidence and views of calibration research in academic, sport, and physical education domains. Interactions between person-related factors and calibration and their effects on the development of students' self-regulated learning of sport skills in physical education were also highlighted.