Positive Future Expectations Research Articles

IMPACT OF NEGATIVE LIFE EVENTS ON SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: DISPOSITIONAL OPTIMISM AS A MODERATOR DURING COVID-19

The study intended to find out the impact of negative life events on suicidal ideation and moderating role of dispositional optimism between former and the later, among college students during COVID-19 in Pakistan. Purposive convenience sample of 300 college students (Mean age=18.45 years, SD=1.374) were taken from different colleges of Pakistan and the data was collected through online Google forms survey questionnaires. Negative life events, dispositional optimism and suicidal ideation among college students were examined. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between negative life events and suicidal ideation (r= .14,*p<.05) and markedly low and negligible positive correlation of dispositional optimism with negative life events and suicidal ideation (r=.11,*p<.05). Regression analysis revealed that negative life events (p<0.05, t=2.34) and dispositional optimism (*p<0.05, t=1.69) have significant positive impact on suicidal ideation. Moderation analysis illustrate that dispositional optimism plays significant (***p<0.001, *p<0.05) moderating role between the relationship of negative life events and suicidal ideation. It was discovered that the study variables revealed a positive correlation. Furthermore, in the times of COVID-19, perceiving adverse life events with a positive thinking and optimistic temperament had a beneficial impact on conceptions of taking one's own life, and positive future expectations had a moderating effect between gloomy life incidents and self-killing thoughts. Keywords: COVID-19, Negative Life Events, Suicidal Ideation, Dispositional Optimism, College Students.

The Association of Career Talent Self-Efficacy, Positive Future Expectations and Personal Growth Initiative

In this study, the association between positive future expectation and personal growth initiative as predictors of career and talent development self-efficacy is examined. Convenience sampling method was used for sampling and the research sample consisted of 419 voluntary students. Career and Talent Development Self-Efficacy Scale, Positive Future Expectations Inventory, Personal Growth Initiative Scale were used as data collection instruments. The predictive relationship between the variables was examined by multiple linear regression analysis. According to the results of the analysis, there were significant and positive relationships between career and talent development self-efficacy, positive future expectation and personal growth initiative. Positive future prospects and personal growth initiative explain 32% of career and talent development self-efficacy.

Psychological Dimensions Relevant to Motivation and Pleasure in Schizophrenia.

Motivation and pleasure deficits are common in schizophrenia, strongly linked with poorer functioning, and may reflect underlying alterations in brain functions governing reward processing and goal pursuit. While there is extensive research examining cognitive and reward mechanisms related to these deficits in schizophrenia, less attention has been paid to psychological characteristics that contribute to resilience against, or risk for, motivation and pleasure impairment. For example, psychological tendencies involving positive future expectancies (e.g., optimism) and effective affect management (e.g., reappraisal, mindfulness) are associated with aspects of reward anticipation and evaluation that optimally guide goal-directed behavior. Conversely, maladaptive thinking patterns (e.g., defeatist performance beliefs, asocial beliefs) and tendencies that amplify negative cognitions (e.g., rumination), may divert cognitive resources away from goal pursuit or reduce willingness to exert effort. Additionally, aspects of sociality, including the propensity to experience social connection as positive reinforcement may be particularly relevant for pursuing social goals. In the current review, we discuss the roles of several psychological characteristics with respect to motivation and pleasure in schizophrenia. We argue that individual variation in these psychological dimensions is relevant to the study of motivation and reward processing in schizophrenia, including interactions between these psychological dimensions and more well-characterized cognitive and reward processing contributors to motivation. We close by emphasizing the value of considering a broad set of modulating factors when studying motivation and pleasure functions in schizophrenia.

Alcohol and tobacco use in Portuguese adolescents: The relationship with social factors, future expectations, physical and psychological symptoms

AbstractThe influence that social factors (relationship with teachers, peers and family support), future expectations, physical and psychological symptoms exert on the adolescents’ tobacco and alcohol consumption is analyzed, and the differences between users and non‐users are analyzed as well. This work is part of the HBSC study. The results show that substance use is associated with more physical and psychological symptoms, worse relationship with teachers and peers, less family support, and lower future expectations. It is important to intervene towards the construction of more positive future expectations and relationships and the promotion of physical and psychological well‐being, as protective factors against substance use.

COVID-19-related stressful experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among college students in China: A moderated mediation model of perceived control over the future and empathy

The current study aims to investigate the mediating effect of perceived control over the future and the moderating effect of empathy on the association between stressful experiences and PTSD symptoms among college students in China in response to COVID-19. A sample of 1,225 college students (70.69% were female, M age = 20.22 years, SD = 2.02) were recruited using web-based surveys at wave 1 (W1) and wave 2 (W2) longitudinally. Results showed that COVID-19-related stressful experiences were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. Perceived control over the future partially mediated the relationship between these two variables ( indirect effect size = 0.09, p < 0.01). Empathy significantly moderated the path from perceived control over the future to PTSD symptoms, suggesting that the association was stronger for individuals with higher levels of empathy. Findings suggest a protective effect of perceived control over the future on college students’ PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a protective effect was intensified by empathy. Future intervention to manage PTSD symptoms should be tailored to positive future expectations and empathy.

Epistemic Beliefs: Relationship to Future Expectancies and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

ContextExpectations about the future (future expectancies) are important determinants of psychological well-being among cancer patients, but the strategies patients use to maintain positive and cope with negative expectancies are incompletely understood. ObjectivesTo obtain preliminary evidence on the potential role of one strategy for managing future expectancies: the adoption of “epistemic beliefs” in fundamental limits to medical knowledge. MethodsA sample of 1307 primarily advanced-stage cancer patients participating in a genomic tumor testing study in community oncology practices completed measures of epistemic beliefs, positive future expectancies, and mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Descriptive and linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between these factors and test two hypotheses: 1) epistemic beliefs affirming fundamental limits to medical knowledge (“fallibilistic epistemic beliefs”) are associated with positive future expectancies and mental HRQOL, and 2) positive future expectancies mediate this association. ResultsParticipants reported relatively high beliefs in limits to medical knowledge (M = 2.94, s.d.=.67) and positive future expectancies (M = 3.01, s.d.=.62) (range 0–4), and relatively low mental and physical HRQOL. Consistent with hypotheses, fallibilistic epistemic beliefs were associated with positive future expectancies (b = 0.11, SE=.03, P< 0.001) and greater mental HRQOL (b = 0.99, SE=.34, P = 0.004); positive expectancies also mediated the association between epistemic beliefs and mental HRQOL (Sobel Z=4.27, P<0.001). ConclusionsEpistemic beliefs in limits to medical knowledge are associated with positive future expectancies and greater mental HRQOL; positive expectancies mediate the association between epistemic beliefs and HRQOL. More research is needed to confirm these relationships and elucidate their causal mechanisms.

The Impact of Goodwill Recognition and Goodwill Impairment on the Increasing Holdings of Block Shareholders

There is a large amount of goodwill recognition and goodwill impairment. These characteristics would trigger stock price fluctuation. Hence, stakeholders will increase holdings to mitigate the volatility of stock prices. According to the data in regard to the Chinese A-share nonfinancial listed companies from 2007 to 2020, we study the reaction of block shareholders after goodwill recognition and goodwill impairment, respectively. Our findings are as follows: (1) goodwill recognition leads to increasing holdings of block shareholders; (2) goodwill impairment also leads to increasing holdings of block shareholders when there is a large amount of goodwill impairment. We also take state ownership into consideration: compared to state-owned firms, private firms show a much stronger positive relation between goodwill recognition and level of increasing holdings of block shareholders, but there is no significant relation between goodwill impairment and increasing holdings of block shareholders in state-owned firms. These empirical results provide us with abundant evidence that block shareholders would increase shareholdings when there is goodwill recognition due to private information of positive future expectation in M&amp;A. Meanwhile, block shareholders would stabilize stock price via increasing shareholdings when goodwill is impaired.

Peer-to-Peer Confirmation, Positive Automatic Thoughts, and Flourishing of Computer Programming E-Learners

Computer programming e-learners faced stressful life circumstances and educational changes that affected the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the cognitive model of flourishing focuses on cognitions rather than situations themselves, it was deemed significant to identify peer-to-peer confirmation, positive automatic thoughts, flourishing, and the links between these study variables in a group of computer programming e-learners and compare the results with other e-learners. This study applied the Flourishing Scale (FS), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire—Positive (ATQP), and the Student-to-Student Confirmation Scale. The sample consisted of 453 e-learners, including 211 computer programming e-learners. The results revealed that computer programming e-learners differed from other e-learners in flourishing, positive daily functioning, and peer-to-peer confirmation. In both samples, positive daily functioning and positive future expectations predicted self-reported flourishing. Positive automatic thoughts and flourishing predicted peer-to-peer confirmation just in the group of computer programming e-learners. The SEM analysis revealed that peer-to-peer confirmation and positive automatic thoughts explained 57.4% of the variance of flourishing in the computer programming e-learners group and 9.3% of the variance in the social sciences e-learners group, χ2 = 81.320, df = 36, p &lt; 0.001; NFI = 0.963; TLI = 0.967; CFI = 0.979; RMSEA = 0.075 [0.053–0.096]; SRMR = 0.033. The findings signify the importance of peer-to-peer confirmation and positive thoughts for computer programming e-learners’ psychological well-being. Nevertheless, the results of this particular study should be regarded with caution due to the relatively small sample size and other limitations. In the future, it would be valuable to identify the underlying mechanisms and the added value of positive states such as flow, which have recently received the increased attention of researchers.

Servant leadership, team-based learning and hope and optimism: A sectoral comparative study

Purpose: This is an era of unprecedented turbulence. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) global pandemic testifies to this turmoil as, daily, the unknown dynamically unfolds. It is important during challenging times like these that leadership and organisational response enhance a shared positive vision for the future of humanity. This study aimed at determining the role played by servant leadership (SL) in promoting employee well-being, specifically, a positive future expectation in terms of hope and optimism (HO), as well as the impact that team-based learning (TBL) has on this relationship, and whether this is the same for both the private and public sectors.Design/methodology/approach: This study employed an empirical paradigm, using a cross-sectional design and quantitative analysis. The total sample consisted of 1560 participants, with 780 employed in the private and public sector, respectively.Findings/results: The results suggest that both SL and TBL have a significant impact on employees’ HO, with TBL being a mediating variable and with stronger relationships reported for the private sector. Technically, the TBL instrument employed was validated for South African use and the study included a statistical assessment of common method bias, which was found not to skew the results.Practical implications: This study provides further empirical evidence that SL is positively associated with HO. Secondly, the future-mindedness and future-orientation of HO could stimulate adaptive responses during this time of uncertainty and turmoil. Thus, HO, as potential resilience factors, could generate resilience by harnessing opportunities and setbacks both during the Covid-19 pandemic and in its aftermath.Originality/value: The practical value of this article is in the empirical evidence that both the leaders and the organisation have an impact on the employees’ wellness and positive work attitudes.

Adolescents’ Future Expectations of Work and Education Within Adaptation Model of Career Construction Theory

The current study suggested and tested a model to investigate the associations between adolescent future expectations of work and education (AFE-WE; adaptive responses) and positive future expectations (PFE; adaptivity) through concern, control, curiosity, and confidence (adaptability resources) as well as the role of the gender. The data were gathered from 806 high school students (59% girls), recruited from eight different public schools in Gaziantep, Turkey. Structural equation model was used. The results showed that the PFE predicted the AFE-WE and concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. Yet, concern contributed to the AFE-WE, only and partially mediated the relationships between the PFE and the AFE-WE. The proposed model did not change across gender. These findings were discussed within cultural context and addressed implications for theory, research, and practice.

Benlik Saygısı, Olumlu Gelecek Beklentisi ve Geleceğe Yönelik Tutumun Mutluluk Üzerindeki Etkisi: Meslek Yüksekokulu Öğrencileri Üzerinde Bir Uygulama

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of self-esteem, positive future expectation, and future attitudes on the happiness of vocational school students. The Self-Esteem Scale developed by Tafarodi and Swann (1995), The Attitude toward Future and Positive Future Expectations Scales developed by İmamoğlu (2001), The Oxford Happiness Scale-Short Form developed by Hills and Argyle (2002), and a personal information form were used to collect the data. The data were obtained from 715 university students studying at Manavgat Vocational School, with one of the highest number of students at Akdeniz University. Reliability analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. These analyses revealed positive and significant relationships among happiness, "self-liking" and "self-competence", which are the sub-dimensions of Self-Esteem Scale. Positive significant relationships were found between "positive orientation" and "planned orientation" sub-dimensions of attitude toward future scale, and happiness. However, a negative significant relationship was found between "anxious orientation" and happiness. A positive significant relationship was found between positive future expectation and happiness. In addition, from among all the independent variables, the "self-liking" sub-dimension was found to have the highest effect on happiness. This was followed by the planned orientation, positive future expectation, anxious orientation, positive orientation, and self-competence sub-dimensions. Self-esteem, attitude toward future, and positive future expectation had a share of 54% in describing the total change in happiness. The findings were discussed in light of the literature and some suggestions were made for school administrations.

Optimism and Longevity Beyond Age 85.

Optimism is associated with health benefits and improved survival among adults older than 65 years. Whether or not optimism beyond age 85 continues to confer survival benefits is poorly documented. We examine the hypothesis that being optimistic at ages 85 and 90 is associated with improved survival. The Jerusalem Longitudinal Study (1990-2020) assessed comorbidity, depression, cognition, social and functional status, and 5-year mortality among a representative community sample, born during 1920-1921, at age 85 (n = 1096) and age 90 (n = 533). Overall optimism (Op-Total) was measured using a validated 7-item score from the Scale of Subjective Wellbeing for Older Persons. The 4 questions concerning positive future expectations (Op-Future) and 3 questions concerning positive experiences (Op-Happy) were also analyzed separately. We determined unadjusted mortality hazards ratios and also adjusted for gender, financial difficulty, marital status, educational status, activities of daily living dependence, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cognitive impairment, and depression. Between ages 85-90 and 90-95 years, 33.2% (364/1096) and 44.3% (236/533) people died, respectively. All mean optimism scores declined from age 85 to 90, with males significantly more optimistic than females throughout. All measures of optimism (Op-Total, Op-Future, and Op-Happy) at ages 85 and 90 were significantly associated with improved 5-year survival from age 85 to 90 and 90 to 95, respectively, in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Findings remained unchanged after separately excluding depressed subjects, cognitively impaired subjects, and subjects dying within 6 months from baseline. These finding support the hypothesis that being optimistic continues to confer a survival benefit irrespective of advancing age.

Imagining the COVID-19 pandemic through the minds of 9–11 years old: findings from an art exhibition in India

ObjectivesTo understand children’s perspectives of COVID-19 and lockdown through art. Study designObservational; Qualitative study. MethodsThe drawings and descriptive notes along with the drawings were presented in an art exhibition and were thematically analyzed. ResultsForty-three documents were created, out of which 134 quotations, 24 codes, 21 themes, and six groups were synthesized. The themes were mainly related to positive experiences, negative experiences, unity, safety, hope, uncertainty, gratitude, faith, and future expectations. ConclusionThis study contributes to a better understanding of children’s perspectives of the pandemic situation.

Distinguishing Perceived Hope and Dispositional Optimism: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Findings beyond Future Expectancies and Cognition

At first glance, hope and optimism appear to be two almost identical concepts. The predominant cognitive theories maintain that both are based on positive future expectancies regarding goal attainment. However, other approaches recommend distinguishing between hope and future expectancies and sustain that the differences between hope and optimism are of a more substantial nature. The present study investigates the distinction between a new short instrument to measure hope as perceived by the general public, and dispositional optimism as measured by the revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) in a South African sample. After comparing both instruments using confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modelling in Mplus, a number of encouraging results emanated from the data. First, the Perceived Hope Scale (PHS) is a unitary and coherent measure of perceived hope. Second, perceived hope, as measured by the PHS, and optimism and pessimism as measured by the LOT-R, are psychometrically distinguished latent dimensions, optimally specified by their indicator variables. Furthermore, perceived hope represents a fundamental construct in the prediction of health outcomes and well-being and is an important antecedent to optimism and dispositional hope. Perceived hope is thus an important additional facet to consider in investigating well-being.

Knowledge, attitude, future expectations and perceived barriers of medical students and physicians regarding pharmacogenomics in Jordan.

Pharmacogenomics (PG) is a modern tool of personalising treatment protocols to improve the efficacy and safety of drug prescriptions. These benefits are offset by a slow uptake in clinical application due to a host of physician factors, patient factors and/or health system factors. Our study, thus, aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, future expectations and perceived barriers of medical students and physicians in Jordan regarding PG testing. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and August 2019. Physicians and senior medical students from academic and non-academic institutions in North Jordan (n=424) were surveyed. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and piloted for the purpose of the study. A scoring system for each dimension assessed was calculated and presented using means. Mean scores were compared by sociodemographic and professional variables. The response rate was 70.7%. The mean total PG knowledge score (±SD) was 5.42 (±1.51) out of 10, with a significantly higher mean among respondents aged <30years (5.54±1.43) compared with those ≥30years old (5.21±1.62; P=.03). The mean total PG attitude score was 21.18 (±2.58) out of 24, with significant differences by seniority levels evident (P=.03). The future expectations of PG among our sample were high, with a mean score of 10.44 (±1.64) out of 12. The top three perceived barriers in applying PG were the high cost, lack of clinical guidelines, and limited knowledge and awareness. Physicians and medical students in Jordan have low overall knowledge, albeit strongly positive attitude and future expectations towards PG, despite the perceived high cost and lack of clinical guidelines. Thus, we strongly recommend adopting a comprehensive educational strategy that aims to integrate PG concepts into medical curricula, and promote the culture of continuous medical education about PG among practitioners.

Inducing positive affect and positive future expectations using the best-possible-self intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT The best-possible-self intervention has been shown to effectively increase positive affect and optimism. Differences in timing and conceptualization of outcome assessments, however, complicate interpretations regarding the practical significance of these effects. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic literature search and included 34 randomized controlled trials into several meta-analyses. We coded the exact time of measurement and how outcomes were assessed. Results reveal small overall effects on positive affect (Hedge’s g = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.41]) and optimism (g = 0.21, 95% CI [0.04, 0.38]). Effects on positive affect were strongest among studies that assessed momentary affect immediately after the intervention, whereas effects on optimism were only significant if conceptualized as positive future expectations rather than a general orientation in life. Descriptive results indicate no substantial follow-up effects. Thus, the best-possible-self intervention might be thought of as a mood/expectation induction procedure. Further development may lead to sustained effects.

Associations between children's self-system functioning and depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms following disaster.

This study examined correlates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms among 6- to 10-year-olds affected directly by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Research on the sequelae of disaster exposure for children has focused largely on aspects that contribute to increased distress or risk for disorder; fewer studies have investigated influences that may serve a positive function. This study sought to address that gap by examining the association between key children's socioemotional resources reflecting the self-system (perceived competence, future expectations, coping competency beliefs) and postdisaster symptomatology (PTSS, depressive symptoms) at approximately 12 and 22 months posthurricane. Participants included 66 caregiver-child dyads at Time 1 (T1) and 51 at Time 2 (T2), recruited in Louisiana and Mississippi. Study results indicate that higher levels of child self-system resources and self-views were associated with lower symptom levels. Although results were mixed across time points, the study's key findings were: (a) children's T1 levels of coping competency beliefs predicted lower PTSS at T2; and (b) children's positive future expectations at T1 predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms at T2. Results support the value of incorporating child socioemotional resource variables in disaster research and building on children's self-system resources via intervention pre- and postdisaster. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A bird’s eye view approach: Linking Optimism and Career planning in millennials of an emerging economy

The study aims to test the construct of optimism (positive future expectancies) and career planning in the students born in millennial era. The study investigated the gender differences in a sample of 381 students enrolled in a postgraduate program. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey-based research design and employed hierarchical regression technique to establish the relationship. Further, the study used Hayes-PROCESS approach to test the moderating role of gender. The results revealed that the millennial students have high levels of optimism and females are more optimistic in nature as compared to male students owing to various environmental and societal reasons. Furthermore, the male-female ratio is increasing in millennial population over a period of time. The research emphasised the role of an optimistic outlook in order to plan ahead as career planning is an ongoing process reflecting the effects of the environmental uncertainties. Hence, optimism should be cultivated in order to promote the competence and skill-building events which would help in enhancing the productivity resulting in better understanding of workplace and life at large. The work supplements the existing literature on outcome expectancies by adding to the social cognitive career theory.

Religiosity and Outcomes Among Child Welfare-Involved Youth

Religiosity is understudied among child welfare-involved adolescents. This study examined the effects religiosity on seven outcomes [substance use disorder (SUD), positive future expectations, delinquency, depression, loneliness, school disengagement, and early sexual activity] in order to understand and support child welfare-involved youth and minimize the effects of trauma. Utilizing the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (Wave I & II), which uses a representative sample of children and adolescents with a child maltreatment report, we used logistic regression to predict each of the seven outcomes longitudinally. Youth (n = 474) who reported that religiosity was very important in Wave I were 53% less likely (OR .47, CI .24–.90, p < .05) to have SUD in Wave II than youth who reported that it was not important or only a little important. In addition, youth (n = 552) who reported that religiosity was very important in Wave I were 2.27 times as likely (CI 1.11–4.65, p < .05) to have positive future expectations in Wave II (e.g., graduate from high school; get a good job). Religiosity did not predict other outcomes nor did attendance to faith-based organizations. In order to help prevent SUD and promote positive future expectations, professionals or caregivers can: (1) assess levels of/religiosity and desire to grow accordingly; and (2) suggest use of resources in the community that foster religiosity.

Securing the future: Threat to self-image spurs financial saving intentions.

This research examines when and why a threat to self-image influences saving intentions. Data from a set of seven studies, comprising a large-scale survey and 6 experiments, show that when individuals experience a self-image threat, they generate negative expectations about their future. Consequently, these individuals show a greater propensity to save money compared with nonthreatened individuals. We demonstrate that this effect diverges from the effects of environmental threats (e.g., resource scarcity) on saving, and find that it is more likely to occur among individuals with strong rather than weak beliefs in the instrumentality of money. Finally, we observe that the relationship between self-image threat and saving intentions is attenuated under the following conditions: (a) when individuals are induced to adopt positive future expectations; (b) when individuals perceive themselves as having abundant social connections, a perception that buffers their anxiety about the future; or (c) when individuals' attention is directed, through self-affirmation, to important aspects of their lives that are irrelevant to the threat. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).