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The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2019

Michael D. Barnett Open the ORCID record for Michael D. Barnett [Opens in a new window]  and
Ellen A. Anderson
Michael D. Barnett*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Counseling, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
Ellen A. Anderson
Affiliation:
School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg, Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract

Objectives:

Optimism and pessimism are distinct constructs that have demonstrated independent relationships with aspects of health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether optimism or pessimism is more closely linked with physical and mental health among older adults.

Design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Participants:

Community-dwelling older adults (N = 272) ages 59–95 in the southern United States.

Measurements:

The Life Orientation Test—Revised and the Short Form 8.

Results:

At the bivariate level, optimism was associated with higher physical health and mental health, while pessimism was associated with lower physical health and mental health. Multiple-regression analyses as well as comparison of correlation coefficients found that pessimism was more closely associated with physical health and mental health than optimism.

Conclusions:

These results add to the literature suggesting that, in terms of older adults’ health and well-being, avoiding pessimism may be more important than being optimistic.

Keywords

physical healthmental health
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 32 , Issue 1: Issue Theme: Cultural Diversity in Psychogeriatrics , January 2020 , pp. 135 - 139
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2019 

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