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Cited by 2,051Optimism, Hope, and Well-beingPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Optimism

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Carver, Charles S., Scheier, Michael F., Segerstrom, Suzanne C.·2010·Clinical Psychology Review
DOI 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006PMC PMC4161121
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Abstract

Optimism is an individual difference variable that reflects the extent to which people hold generalized favorable expectancies for their future. Higher levels of optimism have been related prospectively to better subjective well-being in times of adversity or difficulty (i.e., controlling for previous well-being). Consistent with such findings, optimism has been linked to higher levels of engagement coping and lower levels of avoidance, or disengagement, coping. There is evidence that optimism is associated with taking proactive steps to protect one's health, whereas pessimism is associated with health-damaging behaviors. Consistent with such findings, optimism is also related to indicators of better physical health. The energetic, task-focused approach that optimists take to goals also relates to benefits in the socioeconomic world. Some evidence suggests that optimism relates to more persistence in educational efforts and to higher later income. Optimists also appear to fare better than pessimists in relationships. Although there are instances in which optimism fails to convey an advantage, and instances in which it may convey a disadvantage, those instances are relatively rare. In sum, the behavioral patterns of optimists appear to provide models of living for others to learn from.

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  • Individuals with better psychological health are more likely to use problem-solving and planning strategies to manage controllable stressors.

    “be more likely to use problem-solving and planning strategies to manage controllable stressors, 164”

    From Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2021) · cites this paper as [164]

    The ‘Categories of Coping’ section (page unavailable) says optimism predicts more problem-focused coping with controllable stressors and identifies planning as a problem-focused strategy. The paper also links optimism to better psychological well-being, but it does not establish that better psychological health itself predicts use of these strategies. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cited by

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Authors
Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Segerstrom, S. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Miami (US)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (US)
  • University of Kentucky (US)
Corresponding author
Carver, Charles S.
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Psychology Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-11
Volume
30
Issue
7
Pages
879-889
ISSN
0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006
PMC
PMC4161121
OpenAlex
W4211038230
Cited by
2,051
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 121 · 2025: 147 · 2024: 181 · 2023: 164 · 2022: 256 · 2021: 170 · 2020: 176 · 2019: 120 · 2018: 152 · 2017: 111 · 2016: 105 · 2015: 107 · 2014: 86 · 2013: 72 · 2012: 45
FWCI
5.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • KiltHub Repository (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL 076858, HL65111, HL65112, HL 076852, P50HL065112, R24HL076852, R24HL076858, P50HL065111)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA064710, CA64710)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
optimism, pessimism, subjective well-being, coping styles, engagement coping, avoidance coping, health behavior, physical health, socioeconomic outcomes, academic persistence, income, interpersonal relationships, individual differences
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Emotions, Humans, Personal Satisfaction, Personality, Health Behavior

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