Measure Of Dispositional Optimism Research Articles

New measure of defensive and constructive optimism towards COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Individuals’ beliefs about COVID-19 pandemic may affect their health-related behavior including self-isolation. “Positive” beliefs may be realistic (constructive belief that efforts help to prevent infection and spread of the virus) or rose-colored glasses (defensive belief that coronavirus problem is exaggerated aimed to cope with anxiety) with different consequences for behavior and mental health.Objectives Objectives: The aim was to develop the scales of defensive and constructive optimism towards COVID-19 pandemic (DCO-Covid) and analyze their psychometric properties, factor structure using CFA, internal consistency and validity.Methods The sample comprised 1403 university students (68% women, M=20.59, SD=3.66) from large cities of Russia. Online survey conducted from 10/4/2020 till 25/4/2020. Test battery included the scales of constructive and defensive optimism (each of 3 items) and measure of dispositional optimism (LOT-R, Scheier et al., 1994). Part of the sample (N=306) completed anxiety in a pandemic questionnaire (Tkhostov, Rasskazova, 2020).ResultsCFA indicated a good fit for the two-factor model (χ2=27.11, df=8, p<.001, CFI =.985, TLI=.971, RMSEA = .041, p[RMSEA≤.05] = .78) with negative correlations between factors (–.28). Cronbach’s alpha for defensive optimism and constructive optimism were α=.75 and α=.70 respectively. As expected constructive and defensive optimism correlated with dispositional optimism (r=.24; p < .001 and r=–.06; p<.05 respectively) and anxiety (fear of infection, r=.08; n.s and r= –.23; p < .001).ConclusionsThe results show that DCO-C is a reliable measure of defensive and constructive optimism towards COVID-19 pandemic. The construct validity of these scales is confirmed by CFA and obtained correlations.

The health belief model predicts vaccination intentions against COVID‐19: A survey experiment approach

With the COVID‐19 pandemic recognized as a major threat to human health is of paramount importance to improve the vaccination uptake of the future COVID‐19 vaccine. The study extended the health belief model (HBM) using insights from trait theory and events systems theory, to examine the role of beliefs in predicting intentions to be vaccinated against COVID‐19, when a vaccine becomes available. Employees from Greece (N = 1006) participated from October 1 to November 5, 2020, in an anonymous online factorial survey experiment. Measures of dispositional optimism, faith in intuition, risk‐taking propensity, and acquiring resources mindset were included as individual difference variables. Multilevel modeling techniques were used for data analyses. Components of HBM had significant effects on intentions to vaccinate. Two‐way interactions between severity and susceptibility beliefs and three‐way interaction among perceived severity, susceptibility, and perceived benefits were detected. In line with the events systems theory, a critical event moderated beliefs' effects on intention to vaccinate. Acquiring resources mindset emerged as important individual difference that positively related to intentions. The model explained 59 per cent of the variance in vaccination intentions. The study highlighted interaction effects among the HBM components and how critical events may moderate belief effects.

The Life Orientation Test: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Across Three Age Groups

The Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985) was developed as a measure of dispositional optimism. Optimism has been linked to positive life outcomes and is associated with psychological (Carver & Gaines, 1987; Scheier & Carver, 1985) and physical (Scheier & Carver, 1987; Scheier et al. 1989) well-being. The current study assessed 520 people placed into three age groups: young adult (n =149), middle-age adult (n = 252), and older adult (n = 119). The mean age for the young group was 19.24 (SD = 2.01), middle-aged (47.68 (SD = 4.75), and old was 71.99 (SD = 7.21). Data were submitted for a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) which tested for invariance across the age groups. Previous factor analyses have identified two distinct factors representing optimism and pessimism. Results from the CFA showed that both Configural and Metric invariance models demonstrated acceptable fit for the two factor model (□2(df=57) = 61.92, p = 0.3047; □2(df=69) = 78.77, p = 0.1974). In contrast, Scalar invariance resulted in a poor fit across the three age groups (□2(df=81) = 139.288, p < 0.0001). Model comparisons revealed no significant differences between Configural and Metric models (□2(df=12) = 16.996, p = 0.1498). Model comparisons between Configural and Scalar and Metric and Scalar were (□2(df=24) = 78.947, p < 0.0001; □2(df=12) = 61.764, p < 0.0001). These results confirm previous research that shows a correlated two factor model consistent with the concept that optimism and pessimism are correlated elements rather than two ends of a continuum.

Different Effects of Motivation Orientation on Ideational Flexibility: Key Role of Optimism

Abstract The present study investigated the relationships between motivation orientation (approach and avoidance motivations) and ideational flexibility and the potential effects of optimism on these associations in a large behavioral sample of 320 healthy young adults. As predicted, the approach motivation-ideational flexibility relationship and the avoidance motivation-ideational flexibility relationship were differentially affected by individual difference measures of dispositional optimism. More specifically, optimism significantly moderated the relationship between avoidance motivation and ideational flexibility, whereas it did not moderate the relationship between approach motivation and ideational flexibility. Detailed analysis revealed that avoidance motivation related positively to ideational flexibility, especially for people with low optimism. Furthermore, in an external validation analysis using data obtained from an independent sample of participants (replication cohort; n = 249), we showed that dispositional optimism can reliably affect the approach motivation-ideational flexibility relationship and the avoidance motivation-ideational flexibility relationship differentially. These findings help resolve the ongoing controversy surrounding the nature of the motivation orientation-creativity nexus and have potential implications for current practice and interventions.

Psihometrijske karakteristike Skale očekivanja promene u vezi sa psihološkim problemom (PPCES)

The Psychological Problem Change Expectancy Scale (PPCES) is an instrument designed to assess the client's outcome expectations of a psychological treatment. It is based on the Anxiety Change Expectancy Scale (ACES; Dozois & Westra, 2005). The expectancies regarding the psychological change as a treatment outcome expectation are conceptualized as a system of client's prognostic beliefs about the consequences of participation in some kind of psychological treatment, i.e. the client's expectation of improvement of his/her state as a consequence of participation in a psychological treatment. This paper was aimed at evaluating the basic metric characteristics of the ACES adaptation. The adaptationc onsisted of translating the items into Serbian language and changing the content in order to generally imply to the psychological problem which had been the reason for a person to seek a professional help. The research incorporated two separate studies. In Study 1, conducted on the sample of 171 clients beginning the psychological treatment, the internal consistency and the latent structure of the scale were investigated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In Study 2, conducted on the sample of 240 students participating in ananalogue study, the construct validity was additionally checked by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results of the EFA suggested a high heterogeneity of the scale, while the CFA, due to the impossibility of confirming the original model, suggested a potential shortening of the scale from the initial twenty to eleven items, organized into the bifactor model. The items were organized in two specific factors - change optimism and change pessimism, together with the general factor - treatment outcome expectations. Concurrent validity was confirmed by adequate correlations with the measures of dispositional optimism, self-efficacy and the measures of subjective well-being. It can be concluded that the PPCES scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the expectations of treatment outcomes, but it is more structurally homogeneous in the form of 11 items compared to the initial structure. Because of the specificity of the samples from both studies, future research should additionaly check the structural validity of the PPCES, especially within the clinical population and more homogeneous psychotherapy samples.

Dispositional Optimism as a Correlate of Decision-Making Styles in Adolescence

Despite the numerous psychological areas in which optimism has been studied, including career planning, only a small amount of research has been done to investigate the relationship between optimism and decision-making styles. Consequently, we have investigated the role of dispositional optimism as a correlate of different decision-making styles, in particular, positive for effective styles and negative for ineffective ones (doubtfulness, procrastination, and delegation). Data were gathered through questionnaires administered to 803 Italian adolescents in their last 2 years of high schools with different fields of study, each at the beginning stages of planning for their professional future. A paper questionnaire was completed containing measures of dispositional optimism and career-related decision styles, during a vocational guidance intervention conducted at school. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression. Results supported the proposed model by showing optimism to be a strong correlate of decision-making styles, thereby offering important intervention guidelines aimed at modifying unrealistically negative expectations regarding their future and helping students learn adaptive decision-making skills.

Attitudes and Dispositional Optimism of Animal Rights Demonstrators

AbstractMail-in surveys were distributed to animal activists attending the 1996 March for the Animals. Age and genderdemographic characteristics of the 209 activists who participated in the study were similar to those of the 1990 March for the Animals demonstrators. Most goals of the animal rights movement were judged to be moderately to critically important, although beliefs about their chances of being realized varied considerably. Movement tactics judged to be least effective included the liberation of laboratory animals and the harassment of researchers. Education was seen as being a particularly important instrument of future social change. Demonstrators' scores on the Life Orientation Test - a measure of dispositional optimism - were significantly greater than scores of comparison groups of college students and of patients awaiting coronary bypass surgery. There was a significant positive relationship between levels of optimism and activists' perceptions of the achievement of movement objectives.

Predictors of dental students' belief in the right to refuse treatment to HIV‐positive patients

We examined predictors of dental student's belief that they should be allowed to refuse treatment to HIV-infected persons. We surveyed 181 first; second-, and fourth-year dental students at a large urban university using a 44-item, self-administered anonymous questionnaire and a measure of dispositional optimism. Several composite measures were created and their relationship to belief in the right to refuse treatment was assessed. Regression techniques were used to describe the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results indicated that non-professional attitudes, low optimism scores, low levels of comfort with homosexuality, and gender were the best predictors of belief in the right to refuse treatment to HIV-infected patients. Neither knowledge of HIV, year in dental school, or fear of contagion reliably predicted belief in the right to refuse treatment.

Functional Analysis of Hearing Handicap

Abstract Rehabilitation of patients with hearing impairment is rarely based on functional analysis of specific target situations, needs, and treatment goals. In this paper a behavioural approach to hearing disability is presented and exemplified with a single-case description of a 70 years old male who was given a brief behavioural treatment according to the results of functional analysis. Self-ratings of hearing disability at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at a 15-month follow-up showed favourable effects of the treatment, whereas no effects were found on a measure of dispositional optimism.

Positively and Negatively Worded Items in a Self-Report Measure of Dispositional Optimism

Significantly higher mean scores on the negatively versus positively worded subscales are reported for a Dutch-adapted version of the Life Orientation Test, a measure of dispositional optimism. This extends previous findings on measures of negative affect (i.e., anxiety and depression) to a similarly balanced measure of positive affect. Factor analysis identified two factors (presence of optimism and absence of pessimism) which suggested the multidimensionality of the scale based on differences in item content along the independent dimensions of positive and negative affect.