Key Points
Optimism promotes psychological resilience during prolonged stressors
Positive mindset linked to better coping mechanisms
Lower pessimism associated with safer health behaviors
Mental flexibility crucial for well-being
With social isolation, health concerns and economic uncertainty, fear and anxiety have become a daily reality for many, said the study published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
A team of researchers from Syracuse University and Michigan State University recently explored the personal characteristics that help people handle prolonged stressors, such as the pandemic.
Led by Jeewon Oh, assistant professor of psychology in Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences, the group delved into optimism and pessimism and how those mindsets influence well-being.
The group utilised data from the Health and Retirement Study, a large-scale panel study that gathers a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 and older.
The team used this data to explore how people's mindsets affected their psychological and physical well-being during challenging times.
Among their findings, they found that greater optimism promotes resilience and well-being when faced with stressors like the pandemic, while lower pessimism is linked to safer health behaviours.
"The pandemic introduced many changes, and we wanted to know more about personality traits that can help people cope with enduring and uncontrollable stressors like the pandemic. We examined optimism, because it motivates action," said Oh.
Since optimists view stressful situations positively, they are more likely to directly address the issue or try to adapt when things are uncontrollable.
Both optimism and pessimism had independent associations with psychological well-being. So, people who are more optimistic and less pessimistic worried less, were less stressed and lonely and were more resilient.
This was partly because these people engaged in more physical activity and perceived more social support and less strain from their relationships, Oh added.
In general, regular optimism/pessimism isn't about thinking they wouldn't get sick, or they will be more likely to get sick (compared to others), but about knowing the reality and still thinking that things will eventually work out.
This positive mindset helps people to problem-solve and cope.
"Our study found that optimists fared better even during new difficulties," the researchers noted.
