Pessimistic Explanatory Style, Affectivity, and Psychological Adjustment

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann K. Leiting ◽  
Edward C. Chang ◽  
Kathryn M. Zumberg ◽  
Lawrence J. Sanna ◽  
Molly M. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

scholarly journals Explanatory Style in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Unrecognized Predictor of Mortality

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron D. Crowson ◽  
Robert C. Colligan ◽  
Eric L. Matteson ◽  
John M. Davis ◽  
Cynthia S. Crowson
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Similar Magnitude ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Comparison Cohort ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Objective.To determine whether pessimistic explanatory style altered the risk for and mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.The study included subjects from a population-based cohort with incident RA and a non-RA comparison cohort who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.Results.Among 148 RA and 135 non-RA subjects, pessimism was associated with development of rheumatoid factor (RF)–positive RA. Pessimism was associated with an increased risk of mortality [HR 2.88 with similar magnitude to RF+ (HR 2.28)].Conclusion.Pessimistic explanatory style was associated with an increased risk of developing RA and increased mortality rate in patients with RA.

Explanatory Style and Academic Performance among College Students Beginning a Major Course of Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 861-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. LaForge ◽  
Stephen Cantrell
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Attributional Style ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Cognitive Variable ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Attributional Style Questionnaire ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Explanatory style, a cognitive variable, reflects how people typically explain the causes of bad events involving themselves. Explanatory style emerged from the attributional reformulation of the learned helplessness and depression model as a way of explaining individual differences in response to uncontrollability. A central prediction of the reformulation is that people with habitual explanatory tendencies differ, and individuals with a pessimistic explanatory style will be more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms following bad events than individuals with an optimistic explanatory style. 116 upper-level undergraduates beginning a degree program at this university completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire. Scores were correlated with students' cumulative grade point averages and their total points earned in Consumer Behavior, the first course required in the Marketing major. Students with pessimistic explanatory style scores outperformed colleagues with optimistic explanatory style scores. Implications of these findings and possible explanations for why explanatory style did not correlate in the theoretically predicted way with academic achievement are considered.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style, Stress, and Illness

1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Dykema ◽  
Karen Bergbower ◽  
Christopher Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Bright Ideas: A School-Based Program Teaching Optimistic Thinking Skills in Pre-Adolescence

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (S1) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy M. Brandon ◽  
Everarda G. Cunningham ◽  
Erica Frydenberg
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Attributional Style ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Positive Thinking ◽  
School Based ◽  
Attributional Style Questionnaire ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Research into the areas of depression and resilience suggests that an optimistic attributional style is a key factor in coping effectively with stressors and functioning adaptively despite adversity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a program designed to increase positive thinking skills, through awareness and practice, to pre-adolescent children who have been identified as exhibiting a more pessimistic explanatory style. From a total of 110 Year 5 and 6 students, 38 students were selected to participate in the program because they exhibited a more pessimistic explanatory style. Program participants were administered the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ) at pre-, post-, and 3-month post-program. Non-program participants completed the CASQ at pre- and 3-month post- program. Results indicated that program participants significantly improved their attributional style scores post program, and that these improvements were maintained at 3-month post-program follow-up. When attributional style difference scores at pre- and 3-month post program were compared, improved scores for program participants were significantly greater than changes in attributional style scores for those students who were not in the program. Given the links between attributional style, depression, and a range of behaviours, such promising results warrant further investigation into the effects of such a program on other outcome measures. The findings provide support for the benefits to be gained by developing positive attributional style during the pre-adolescent years.

Relation of Irrational Thinking and the Pessimistic Explanatory Style

2001 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Ziegler ◽  
Janine L. Hawley
Keyword(s):  
Attributional Style ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy ◽  
Personality Theory ◽  
Frustration Tolerance ◽  
Irrational Thinking ◽  
Attributional Style Questionnaire ◽  
Survey Of Personal Beliefs ◽  
Low Frustration Tolerance ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

This study investigated the possible relationship between Ellis's construct of irrational thinking and Seligman's construct of explanatory style, with a view toward possibly strengthening the personality theory underlying Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in particular and cognitive-behavior therapies more generally. In this investigation 180 college students were administered the Survey of Personal Beliefs and the Attributional Style Questionnaire to measure irrational thinking and explanatory style, respectively. Students who scored higher on Pessimistic Explanatory Style also scored higher on Overall Irrational Thinking and on Low Frustration Tolerance than did those who were categorized as having an Optimistic Explanatory Style. This indicates support for Ellis's developing personality theory, especially his theoretical account of depression.

THE INFLUENCE OF PESSIMISTIC EXPLANATORY STYLE ON THE RELATION BETWEEN STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS AND HOSPITAL DOCTORS' PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Clarke ◽  
Racquel Singh
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Attributional Style ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Attributional Style Questionnaire ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
Pessimistic Explanatory Style

This study examined the influence of pessimistic explanatory style (PES) on the relation between stressful events and psychological distress, first as a moderator with an interaction term, and secondly as a mediator between stressful events and psychological distress. A demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12; Goldberg & Williams, 1991), the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS; Holmes & Masuda, 1974), and the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Peterson, 1995) were completed by 121 hospital doctors, 70 men and 51 women, aged 23–65 years (M = 37.2, SD = 1.2). There were no significant differences in mean GHQ psychological distress scores between groups for sex, domestic status, employment status or grade. Stressful events were positively associated with PES, and both were positively associated with psychological distress. In the absence of a significant interaction component, multiple regression analyses did not support explanatory style as a moderator, but did support it as a mediator in the relationship between stressful events and psychological distress. Findings were discussed in terms of helping doctors to alter their explanatory styles and possibly attenuate the influence of stressful events on their psychological distress.

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