Optimism

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria G. Mens ◽  
Michael F. Scheier ◽  
Charles S. Carver
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
The Future

Optimism is expecting good things to occur in your life. Such positive expectations are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being, better physical health, and a higher quality and quantity of social relationships. The benefits of optimism are partially attributable to the manner in which optimists and pessimists cope with adversity. Optimists tend to cope with adversity actively, attempting to solve problems when they can, accepting problems that they cannot resolve, and focusing on the positive aspects of their experiences. In addition to coping with adversity better, optimists also appear to engage in proactive efforts to prevent problems in the future, including taking actions to minimize various kinds of health risks. Although previous research has clearly demonstrated the benefits of optimism across a wide array of outcomes, there remains several unresolved issues concerning the effects of optimism and how optimism should be conceptualized, which are discussed.

Optimism

2009 ◽  
pp. 302-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Carver ◽  
Michael F. Scheier ◽  
Daniel Fulford
Keyword(s):  
Disease Progression ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Problem Solution ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Negative Feelings ◽  
Seriously Ill

Optimism is expecting good things to occur in one's life. Such positive expectations are associated with higher subjective well-being, even under conditions of stress or adversity. In contrast, pessimists respond to adversity with more intense negative feelings. There are also differences in the manner in which optimists and pessimists try to cope with adversity. Optimists tend to put the best face on the adversity, but they acknowledge its existence and its importance, and they try to do as much as possible to resolve whatever problems can be resolved. Pessimists are more likely to distance themselves from the problem and put off doing anything about it as long as possible. They are also more likely to give up trying, if things remain difficult. Some kinds of problem solution is proactive, engaged in before the problem arises. Optimists also tend to engage in such proactive efforts, including taking actions to minimize various kinds of health risks. Perhaps, as a consequence of these preventive steps, optimists also tend to have better health than pessimists. They seem to heal faster from wounds, and there is some evidence that when they are seriously ill they experience slower disease progression. It has been suggested that optimists sometimes are no better off than pessimists, and sometimes are worse off: that their confidence can get them into situations where it is difficult to cope effectively. Evidence of such negative effects of optimism does exist, but it is relatively sparse.

Patterns of Social Relationships and Psychological Well-being among the Elderly

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Takahashi ◽  
Junko Tamura ◽  
Makiko Tokoro
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Type Method

On the premise that social relationships among elderly adults differ in terms of the most significant, dominant figure, this study aimed to examine: (1) whether there were qualitative differences in supportive functions between family-dominant and friend-dominant affective relationships, and (2) whether “lone wolves”, who were deficient in human resources, had difficulties in maintaining their well-being. A total of 148 Japanese, over the age of 65, both living in communities and in institutions were individually interviewed about their social relationships using a self-report type method, the Picture Affective Relationships test, and their well-being was assessed using Depression, Self-esteem, Life satisfaction, and Subjective health scales. Results showed that there were no differences in psychological well-being between family-dominant and friend-dominant participants, but those who lacked affective figures had lower scores in subjective well-being than did their family-dominant and friend-dominant counterparts. The generalisation of these findings to other cultures is discussed.

scholarly journals Benefits of Equine-Based Therapy for Individuals with Dementia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lauren Fearn
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Energy Level ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equine Assisted

Individuals living with dementia typically experience progressive, cognitive, and functional decline which limits their ability to communicate and fully perform activities (Pimouguet el al., 2019). Horses have been shown to benefit individuals with dementia by improving well-being, physical health, functional capacity, and social relationships (Fields et. al., 2019). A 6-week OT-based virtual equine-assisted activities program was conducted to determine if participation in equine-assisted activities could improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia. Outcomes of the program resulted in improvements in mood, energy level, engagement, communication, memory, socialization, and overall quality of life.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Peterson ◽  
Tracy A. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
History Of ◽  
Long Life

Research has linked optimism to higher levels of subjective well-being, to positive mood and good morale, to perseverance and effective problem solving, to achievement and success in a variety of domains, to popularity, to good physical health, to reduced suicidal ideation, and even to long life and freedom from trauma. In this chapter, we review what is known about one cognate of optimism—“explanatory style,” how people habitually explain the causes of events that occur to them. We trace the history of explanatory style research, focusing on the neglected question of the origins of explanatory style. Finally, we conclude by addressing issues that need to be considered by positive psychologists doing research on explanatory style. Research still focuses too much on negative outcomes, ignoring the premise of positive psychology: What makes life most worth living needs to be examined in its own right.

Overt and Subtle Discrimination, Subjective Well-Being and Physical Health-Related Quality Of Life in an Obese Sample

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Magallares ◽  
Pilar Benito de Valle ◽  
Jose Antonio Irles ◽  
Ignacio Jauregui-Lobera
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Subtle Discrimination ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

AbstractObesity represents a serious health issue affecting millions of people in Western industrialized countries. The severity of the medical problems it causes is paralleled by the fact that obesity has become a social stigma that affects the psychological health-related quality of life of individuals with weight problems. Our study, with 111 obese patients of a Spanish hospital, focused specifically on how overt and subtle discrimination is related to subjective well-being (affect balance and life satisfaction) and physical health-related quality of life. It was shown that overt (r = –.28, p < .01 with affect balance; r = –.26, p < .01 with life satisfaction) and subtle discrimination (r = –.28, p < .01 with affect balance; r = –.27, p < .01 with life satisfaction) were negatively linked with subjective well-being, and that there was a negative correlation between overt discrimination and physical health-related quality of life (r = –.26, p < .01). Additionally, it was found that overt discrimination was a mediator variable in the relationship between physical health-related quality of life and subjective well-being using the Baron and Kenny procedure. Finally, it is discussed the relationship between discrimination, subjective well-being and physical health-related quality of life in obese people.

Looking to the Future to Appreciate the Present

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1238-1241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime L. Kurtz
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Conventional Wisdom ◽  
Temporal Distance ◽  
College Graduation ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
College Life ◽  
The Future

Both psychological research and conventional wisdom suggest that it can be difficult to attend to and derive enjoyment from the pleasant things in life. The present study examined whether focusing on the imminent ending of a positive life experience can lead to increased enjoyment. A temporal distance manipulation was used to make college graduation seem more or less close at hand. Twice a week over the course of 2 weeks, college students were told to write about their college life, with graduation being framed as either very close or very far off. As predicted, thinking about graduation as being close led to a significant increase in college-related behaviors and subjective well-being over the course of the study. The present research provides support for the counterintuitive hypothesis that thinking about an experience's ending can enhance one's present enjoyment of it.

Self-compassion, Well-being and Health in Elderly: Are there Related?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S648-S648 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cunha ◽  
L. Parente ◽  
A. Galhardo ◽  
M. Couto
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Self Compassion

IntroductionThe increase in aging population is a major advance in society, but also a great challenge, imposing the need for actions that promote successful aging, with higher subjective well-being and better health.Objectives(1) analyse the possible influence of socio-demographic variables in self-compassion, satisfaction with life, affection, physical and mental health (study variables); (2) understand how is that the study variables are associated with each other in old age; and (3) explore which variables best predict satisfaction with life and health in the elderly.MethodThe study sample consists of 155 individuals, aged between 65 and 94 years old, institutionalised and non-institutionalised.Results(1) significant correlations were found between some demographic and the study variables. (2) Significant associations were also found between self-compassion, subjective well-being and health. (3) linear regression analysis revealed that physical health is best predicted by greater life satisfaction and lower age; mental health is best predicted by increased satisfaction with life, self-compassion and decreased negative affect; and, finally, life satisfaction is predicted by a higher physical health and self-compassion.ConclusionsThese results suggest the importance of developing psychological skills such as warmth, tolerance and the acceptance of suffering bearing in mind that the elderly may experience difficulties resulting from the developmental characteristics of old age. Our findings suggest the possible beneficial effect of compassion, focused therapies designed for this specific population, particularly contributing to the promotion of life satisfaction and mental health of the Portuguese elderly.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Culture and Well-Being

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigehiro Oishi ◽  
Ulrich Schimmack
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Gross National Product ◽  
Adam Smith ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
National Product ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Good Society ◽  
Wealth Of Nations

What is a good society? Philosophers from Plato to Bentham have argued that a good society is a happy society—namely, a society in which most citizens are happy and free from fear. Since the publication of The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith in 1776, most economists have implicitly assumed that a happy society is a materially wealthy society. Thus, gross national product and related indices became the most popular indicators of the well-being of nations from the 1950s to date. Recently, however, prominent economists as well as political scientists, sociologists, and psychologists have shown that a happy society is not only a materially wealthy society but also a society in which citizens can trust one another, have a sense of freedom, and have close social relationships. The inquiry into the psychological wealth of nations, or the subjective well-being of nations, helps answer a fundamental question in philosophy and social sciences for millennia: “What is a good society?”

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