Cited by 6,690Optimism, Hope, and Well-beingAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesCancer survivorship and care

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 11 of the 11 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.

Scheier, Michael F., Carver, Charles S.·1985·Health Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0278-6133.4.3.219

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

This article describes a scale measuring dispositional optimism, defined in terms of generalized outcome expectancies. Two preliminary studies assessed the scale's psychometric properties and its relationships with several other instruments. The scale was then used in a longitudinal study of symptom reporting among a group of undergraduates. Specifically, respondents were asked to complete three questionnaires 4 weeks before the end of a semester. Included in the questionnaire battery was the measure of optimism, a measure of private self-consciousness, and a 39-item physical symptom checklist. Subjects completed the same set of questionnaires again on the last day of class. Consistent with predictions, subjects who initially reported being highly optimistic were subsequently less likely to report being bothered by symptoms (even after correcting for initial symptom-report levels) than were subjects who initially reported being less optimistic. This effect tended to be stronger among persons high in private self-consciousness than among those lower in private self-consciousness. Discussion centers on other health related applications of the optimism scale, and the relationships between our theoretical orientation and several related theories.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/0278-6133.4.3.219

Cites

0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The publisher hasn’t deposited this paper’s reference list.

Sorted by citations

Items 501–600 of 1,078

Religiosity, Spirituality, and Socioemotional Functioning in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Ekas, N. V., Whitman, T. L., & Shivers, C. M. (2008) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0673-4 · Cited by 149
“... to low risk samples, mothers reported higher degrees of stress (Abidin 1995; Bonds et al. 2002), higher negative affect (Watson et al. 1988), and levels of depression that were severe enough to warrant a clinical diagnosis of depression (Radloff 1977), lower positive affect (Watson et al. 1988), lower self esteem…”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Development, refinement, and psychometric properties of the Attitudes Toward God Scale (ATGS-9).
Wood, B. T., Worthington, E. L., Exline, J. J., Yali, A. M., Aten, J. D., & McMinn, M. R. (2010) · Psychology of Religion and Spirituality · doi:10.1037/a0018753 · Cited by 159
“We assessed dispositional optimism using the Life Optimism Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Hope Therapy
Lopez, S. J., Floyd, R. K., Ulven, J. C., & Snyder, C. R. R. (2000) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012654050-5/50009-9 · Cited by 151
Feelings as Information: Moods Influence Judgments and Processing Strategies
Schwarz, N. (2002) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511808098.031 · Cited by 149
Dispositional optimism and the mechanisms by which it predicts slower disease progression in HIV: proactive behavior, avoidant coping, and depression
Ironson, G. H., Balbin, E., Stuetzle, R., FLETCHER, M. A., O’Cleirigh, C. M., Laurenceau, J., Schneiderman, N., & Solomon, G. F. (2005) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_6 · Cited by 149
“Psychosocial measures—Optimism was measured by a composite of the Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985) and the LOT-R (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), which assess dispositional optimism or the extent to which one generally anticipates positive outcomes (e.g., I always look on the…”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
A Cognitive Model of Religion's Influence On Health
Dull, V. T., & Skokan, L. A. (1995) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1995.tb01323.x · Cited by 152
Optimism, perceived control over stress, and coping
Fontaine, K. R., Manstead, A. S. R., & Wagner, H. L. (1993) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.2410070407 · Cited by 157
The Unique Contribution of Key Existential Factors to the Prediction of Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults Following Spousal Loss
Fry, P. S. (2001) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/41.1.69 · Cited by 148
“" Scheier and Carver (1992) present extensive reliability and validity data of their optimism measure in various clinical and nonclinical samples, and demonstrate the links between optimism and physical and emotional health and well-being (Scheier & Carver, 1985, 1992).”
Development of a positive psychology intervention for patients with acute cardiovascular disease
Huffman, J. C., Mastromauro, C. A., Boehm, J. K., Seabrook, R., Fricchione, G. L., Denninger, J. W., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2011) · Heart International · doi:10.4081/hi.2011.e14 · Cited by 148
Social comparison and coping with cancer treatment
van der Zee, K. I., Buunk, B. P., Sanderman, R., Botke, G., & van den Bergh, F. (2000) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/s0191-8869(99)00045-8 · Cited by 147
“Scheier, Carver and their associates ( Scheier, & Carver, 1985; Scheier et al., 1989, 1986) found an optimistic nature to be associated with more active coping with stress.”
Background
Promoting emotional well-being through the use of humour.
Crawford, S. A., & Caltabiano, N. J. (2011) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2011.577087 · Cited by 148
“Scheier and Carver (1985, 1987) claim that the LOT-R’s validity is supported with scores correlating positively with internal control beliefs and self-esteem, and negatively with depression, hopelessness, alienation and perceived stress.”
Background
Suicidal Thinking Among Adolescents With a History of Attempted Suicide
Roberts, R. K., Roberts, C. R., & Chen, Y. R. (1998) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-199812000-00013 · Cited by 145
The relationship of children’s hope to pediatric asthma treatment adherence
Berg, C. J., Rapoff, M. A., Snyder, C. R., & Belmont, J. M. (2007) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760701409629 · Cited by 145
The impact of job demands, climate, and optimism on well-being and distress at work: What are the mediating effects of basic psychological need satisfaction?
Desrumaux, P., Lapointe, D., Ntsame Sima, M., Boudrias, J.-S., Savoie, A., & Brunet, L. (2015) · European Review of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.erap.2015.06.003 · Cited by 147
Mindfulness and Other Buddhist-Derived Interventions in Correctional Settings: A Systematic Review
Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Slade, K., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2013.01.002 · Cited by 147
“…Problems [Miller, Tonigan, & Longabaugh, 1995]), alcohol use locus of control (Drinking-Related Locus of Control Scale [Donovan & O’Leary, 1978]), psychiatric symptom severity (Brief Symptom Inventory [Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983]), and optimism (Life Orientation Test [Scheier & Carver, 1985]).”
Background
Psychological Capital Predicts Academic Engagement and Well-Being in Filipino High School Students
Datu, J. A. D., & Valdez, J. P. M. (2015) · The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher · doi:10.1007/s40299-015-0254-1 · Cited by 179
Optimism, pessimism, and false failure feedback: Effects on vigilance performance
Helton, W. S., Dember, W. N., Warm, J. S., & Matthews, G. (1999) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-999-1006-2 · Cited by 147
The Development and Validation of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale
Sinclair, V. G., & Wallston, K. A. (1999) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1023/a:1018770926615 · Cited by 147
“... PVS scores with measures of personal coping resources, psychological well-being, social support, and pain-coping behavior in the three samples of persons with RA. The other measures of personal coping resources were arthritis helplessness (Stein, Wallston, & Nicassio, 1988), Perceived Health Competence (Smith, Wal…”
Background
Optimism and Pessimism as Predictors of Change in Health After Death or Onset of Severe Illness in Family.
Mika Kivimaki, B., Vahtera, J., Elovainio, M. J., Helenius, H. Y. M., Singh‐Manoux, A., & Pentti, J. (2005) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.24.4.413 · Cited by 148
“People with a highly optimistic life orientation experience daily events in a more positive way and expect more positive outcomes than pessimists ( Scheier & Carver, 1985, 1987 ).”
BackgroundInfluential
The Effect of Quality of the Relationship Between Mothers and Adult Children With Schizophrenia, Autism, or Down Syndrome on Maternal Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Optimism.
Greenberg, J. S., Seltzer, M. M., Krauss, M. W., Chou, R. J.-A., & Hong, J. (2004) · American Journal of Orthopsychiatry · doi:10.1037/0002-9432.74.1.14 · Cited by 146
Personality, Career Satisfaction, and Life Satisfaction: Test of a Directional Model
Lounsbury, J. W., Park, S.-H., Sundstrom, E. D., et al. (2004) · Journal of Career Assessment · doi:10.1177/1069072704266658 · Cited by 146
“…Scale on the NEO-PIR; (f) optimism; six items; coefficient alpha = .88; r =.70 with the Life Orientation Test, a general optimism scale (Scheier & Carver, 1985); and (f) tough-mindedness; eight items; coefficient alpha = .83; r = –.76 with the TenderMindedness Scale of the…”
Background
The Costs and Benefits of Optimistic Explanations and Dispositional Optimism
Tennen, H. A., & Affleck, G. G. (1987) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1987.tb00443.x · Cited by 143
“Generalized outcome expectancies play a pivotal role in Scheier and Carver's formulation of the influence of optimism on health Expectancies are also key in Peterson and Sehgman's explanation of how explanatory style may make one vulnerable to illness Psterson and Sehgman (cf Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978, Allo…”
Background
View of God as benevolent and forgiving or punishing and judgmental predicts HIV disease progression
Ironson, G. H., Stuetzle, R., Ironson, D., Balbin, E., Kremer, H., George, A., Schneiderman, N., & FLETCHER, M. A. (2011) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-011-9314-z · Cited by 149
“Optimism was measured by a 9-item composite of the Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier and Carver 1985 ) and LOT-R (Scheier et al. 1994), each scored 1 to 4, which assesses dispositional optimism or the degree to which one generally anticipates positive outcomes (e.g., ‘‘I always look on the bright side of things’’).”
Method
Cancer, personality and stress: Prediction and prevention
Eysenck, H. J. (1994) · Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0146-6402(94)00001-8 · Cited by 146
“Optimism (Scheier & Carver, 1985) is also H-positive, as are fighting spirit (Nelson et al., 1989), and self-efficacy (Bandura, Cioffi, Taylor & Brouillard, 1988).”
Background
Quality of Life Among Long-Term Adolescent and Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Maunsell, E., Pogany, L. M., Barrera, M. E., Shaw, A. K., & Speechley, K. N. (2006) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2005.03.9297 · Cited by 146
The impacts of positive psychological states on physical health: A review and theoretical framework
Edwards, J. R., & Cooper, C. L. (1988) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(88)90212-2 · Cited by 145
Vipassana meditation: systematic review of current evidence
Chiesa, A. (2010) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0362 · Cited by 142
Psychological Capital as a Buffer to Student Stress
Riolli, L., Savicki, V., & Richards, J. (2012) · Psychology · doi:10.4236/psych.2012.312a178 · Cited by 144
“These separate measures have been found to differentiate persons on different criteria of well-being (Block & Kremen, 1996; Scheier & Carver, 1985; Snyder, Irving, & Anderson, 1991).”
BackgroundMethod
Culture‐specific appraisal biases contribute to emotion dispositions
Scherer, K. R., & Brosch, T. (2009) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.714 · Cited by 153
“…individual differences are closely linked to differences in affective functioning such as impulsivity (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001), self-schemata (Markus, 1977), attachment styles (Bowlby, 1989), optimism–pessimism (Scheier & Carver, 1985) or goals and strategies (Dweck, 1996), to name but a few.”
Background
Online Positive Affect Journaling in the Improvement of Mental Distress and Well-Being in General Medical Patients With Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial
Smyth, J. M., Johnson, J. A., Auer, B. J., Lehman, E. B., Talamo, G., & Sciamanna, C. (2018) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/11290 · Cited by 160
“Some of the reported benefits of these positive dispositions include fewer physical symptoms [40], faster wound healing [41], healthier functioning biological processes (eg, neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and cardiovascular activity) [42], better interpersonal relationships [43], higher quality of life [44], increased…”
Background
Strategies for Accentuating Hope
Lopez, S. J., Snyder, C. R. R., Magyar‐Moe, J. L., Edwards, L. M., Pedrotti, J. T., Janowski, K. M., Turner, J. L., & Pressgrove, C. L. (2004) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470939338.ch24 · Cited by 155
Topical review: Resilience resources and mechanisms in pediatric chronic pain
Cousins, L. A., Kalapurakkel, S., Cohen, L. L., & Simons, L. E. (2015) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv037 · Cited by 144
Mental toughness in sport
Liew, G. C., Kuan, G., Chin, N. S., & Hashim, H. A. (2019) · German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research · doi:10.1007/s12662-019-00603-3 · Cited by 161
The Importance of Social Support, Optimism and Resilience on the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients
Ruiz-Rodríguez, I., Hombrados‐Mendieta, I., Melguizo-Garín, A., & Martos-Méndez, M. J. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.833176 · Cited by 146
“Dispositional optimism has been defined as a relatively stable feeling of expecting general positive outcomes in life situations (Scheier and Carver, 1985).”
Background
Diagnostic classification of shoulder disorders: interobserver agreement and determinants of disagreement
de Winter, A. F., Jans, M. P., Scholten, R. J. P. M., Devillé, W. L. J. M., van Schaardenburg, D., & Bouter, L. M. (1999) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.58.5.272 · Cited by 143
“The total score ranges from 0 “no disability” to 100 “difficulty with all applicable items”. Personality traits (anxiety, anger, depression and optimism) were measured by means of the Self-Assessment Questionnaire-Nijmegen (SAQ-N).”
Method
Emotional Intelligence: Conceptualization and Measurement
Salovey, P. (2003) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470998557.ch11 · Cited by 144
Stress, Stigma, and Sexual Minority Status: The Intersectional Ecology Model of LGBTQ Health
Mink, M. D., Lindley, L. L., & Weinstein, A. A. (2014) · Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services · doi:10.1080/10538720.2014.953660 · Cited by 142
“Optimism is the general tendency to expect positive or good outcomes (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
Background
Social Relations, Coping, and Psychological Distress Among Persons With HIV/AIDS1
Schmitz, M. F., & Crystal, S. (2000) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2000.tb02818.x · Cited by 140
The impact of resilience and subsequent stressful life events on MDD and GAD
Sheerin, C. M., Lind, M. J., Brown, E. A., Gardner, C. O., Kendler, K. S., & Amstadter, A. B. (2017) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22700 · Cited by 147
Do We Know How We Cope? Relating Daily Coping Reports to Global and Time-Limited Retrospective Assessments.
Todd, M. W., Tennen, H. A., Carney, M. A., Armeli, S., & Affleck, G. G. (2004) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.310 · Cited by 137
A Cognitive Ecological Model of Women'S Response to Male Sexual Coercion in Dating
Nurius, P. S., & Norris, J. (1996) · Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality · doi:10.1300/j056v08n01_09 · Cited by 147
“…“illusory glow” is associated with positive mental health and social functioning, as well as with successful coping and reestablishing psychological well-being in the aftermath of threat (Friedland, Keinan, & Regev, 1992; Greenwald, 1980; Scheier & Carver, 1985; Taylor, 1989; Taylor & Brown, 1988).”
Background
Relations between problem orientation and optimism, pessimism, and trait affectivity: A construct validation study
Chang, E. C., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1996) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(95)00046-1 · Cited by 139
Illness and treatment beliefs in head and neck cancer: Is Leventhal's common sense model a useful framework for determining changes in outcomes over time?
Llewellyn, C. D., McGurk, M., & Weinman, J. A. (2007) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.01.013 · Cited by 142
Grey-Based Preference in a Graph Model for Conflict Resolution With Multiple Decision Makers
Kuang, H., Bashar, M., Hipel, K. W., & Kilgour, D. M. (2015) · IEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics Systems · doi:10.1109/tsmc.2014.2387096 · Cited by 141
“The characteristics of human beings, referring in this research to optimism, pessimism, and neutral, have been studied for several decades [40]–[44].”
Background
Detecting and constructing meaning in life events
King, L. A., & Hicks, J. A. (2009) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760902992316 · Cited by 161
“The 8-item Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985 ; M = 3.”
MethodInfluential
Predicting Emotional Response to Unsuccessful Fertility Treatment: A Prospective Study
Verhaak, C. M., Smeenk, J. M. J., Evers, A. W. M., van Minnen, A., Kremer, J. A. M., & Kraaimaat, F. W. (2005) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-005-3667-0 · Cited by 141
“Optimism was assessed with the optimism scale of the Life Orientation Test (LOT: possible range 0‐32), developed by Scheier and Carver (1985) and translated into a Dutch version by Vinck et al. (1998).”
Method
Postbereavement depressive mood and its prebereavement predictors in HIV+ and HIV– gay men.
Folkman, S., Chesney, M., Collette, L., Boccellari, A., & Cooke, M. (1996) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.70.2.336 · Cited by 141
A Controlled Pilot Study of Stress Management Training of Elderly Patients With Congestive Heart Failure
Luskin, F., Reitz, M., Newell, K., Quinn, T. G., & Haskell, W. L. (2002) · Preventive Cardiology · doi:10.1111/j.1520.037x.2002.01029.x · Cited by 142
Hope, Coping, and Adjustment Among Children with Sickle Cell Disease: Tests of Mediator and Moderator Models
Lewis, H. A., & Kliewer, W. L. (1996) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/21.1.25 · Cited by 144
“Optimism, as conceptualized by Scheier and Carver (1985) parallels the notion of pathways but does not include the concept of agency.”
Background
Impact of psychological capital and life satisfaction on organizational resilience during COVID-19: Indian tourism insights
Pathak, D., & Joshi, G. (2020) · Current Issues in Tourism · doi:10.1080/13683500.2020.1844643 · Cited by 138
“Optimism theory suggests that expectancies related to positive outcomes generate goal directed behaviour (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
Background
Does rating analyst subjectivity affect corporate debt pricing?
Fracassi, C., Petry, S., & Tate, G. A. (2016) · Journal of Financial Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jfineco.2016.02.006 · Cited by 134
“We consider the full set of ratings analysts, finding evidence of persistent relative optimism among certain analysts, similar to the dispositional optimism identified in the psychology literature (Scheier and Carver, 1985; Scheier, Carver, and Bridges, 1994) and recent work in household finance (Puri and Robinson, 20…”
Optimism, positive affectivity, and salivary cortisol
Lai, J. C. L., Evans, P. D., Ng, S. H., Chong, A. M. L., Siu, O. T., Chan, C., Ho, S. M. Y., Ho, R., Chan, P., & Chan, K. (2005) · British Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1348/135910705x26083 · Cited by 141
"What, Me Worry?": Arousal, Misattribution, and the Effect of Temporal Distance on Confidence
Savitsky, K., Medvec, V. H., Charlton, A. E., & Gilovich, T. D. (1998) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167298245008 · Cited by 135
Coming Out Growth: Conceptualizing and Measuring Stress-Related Growth Associated with Coming Out to Others as a Sexual Minority
Vaughan, M. D., & Waehler, C. A. (2009) · Journal of Adult Development · doi:10.1007/s10804-009-9084-9 · Cited by 137
“The LOT-R is based on the original 12-item LOT ( Scheier and Carver 1985 ), which defines optimism as an individual’s generalized expectancies for positive outcomes.”
Method
Subjective Invulnerability, Optimism Bias and Adjustment in Emerging Adulthood
Lapsley, D. K., & Hill, P. L. (2009) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-009-9409-9 · Cited by 138
“…optimism (generalized positive expectancy) and comparative optimism (one’s risk relative to others) are often associated with a wide range of adaptive outcomes, including indices of psychological and health-related well-being (e.g., Radcliffe and Klein 2002; Scheier and Carver 1982, 1992).”
Background
Are meaning and purpose distinct? An examination of correlates and predictors
George, L. S., & Park, C. L. (2013) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.805801 · Cited by 152
“Pessimists have generalized expectations regarding outcomes that are negative (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
Background
Optimism and Unrealistic Optimism have an Interacting Impact on Health-Promoting Behavior and Knowledge Changes
Davidson, K. W., & Prkachin, K. M. (1997) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167297236005 · Cited by 136
Evaluation of a psycho-educational group programme for family caregivers in home-based palliative care
Hudson, P., Quinn, K., Kristjanson, L. J., Thomas, T., Braithwaite, M., Fisher, J., & Cockayne, M. (2008) · Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1177/0269216307088187 · Cited by 136
Strength‐based mentoring in pre‐service teacher education: a literature review
He, Y. (2009) · Mentoring & Tutoring Partnership in Learning · doi:10.1080/13611260903050205 · Cited by 145
“Both theories are closely related to Bandura's ( 1982 ) self‐efficacy theory, Scheier and Carver's ( 1985 ) optimism theory and Covington's ( 2000 ) goal theory.”
Background
Religious/spiritual coping resources and their relationship with adjustment in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK
Thuné‐Boyle, I., Stygall, J., Keshtgar, M., Davidson, T., & Newman, S. P. (2012) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.3048 · Cited by 144
The Neural Basis of Optimism and Pessimism
Hecht, D. (2013) · Experimental Neurobiology · doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173 · Cited by 160
“These instruments include the Unrealistic Optimism Scale [4], the Attributional Style Questionnaire [5], the Life Orientation Test [6, 7], the Hope Scale [8], the Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale [9, 10] and the Optimism-Pessimism Scale [11].”
Method
Modes of hoping
Webb, D. (2007) · History of the Human Sciences · doi:10.1177/0952695107079335 · Cited by 135
“Psychologically too, such definitions are dubious because they tend to conflate hope with another construct, namely, optimism, commonly defined as a generalized expectancy that good future outcomes will occur (Scheier and Carver, 1985).”
Background
An interpretative phenomenological analysis of stress and coping in first year undergraduates
Denovan, A., & Macaskill, A. (2012) · British Educational Research Journal · doi:10.1002/berj.3019 · Cited by 174
“Positive expectations can be taken to represent optimistic thinking, which refers to positive outcome expectancy, and negative expectations represent pessimistic thinking (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
Background
Achievement strategies during university studies predict early career burnout and engagement
Salmela‐Aro, K., Tolvanen, A. J., & Nurmi, J. (2009) · Journal of Vocational Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.009 · Cited by 152
Predicting Career Adaptability From Positive Psychological Traits
Büyükgöze‐Kavas, A. (2016) · The Career Development Quarterly · doi:10.1002/cdq.12045 · Cited by 137
Lay theories of quality of life in older age
Bowling, A., & Gabriel, Z. (2007) · Ageing and Society · doi:10.1017/s0144686x07006423 · Cited by 148
Expectations about the Future and the Emotional Consequences of Perceiving Prejudice
Kaiser, C. R., Major, B., & McCoy, S. K. (2004) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167203259927 · Cited by 133
“These relationships are consistent with the idea that pessimistic expectations are a general source of emotional vulnerability ( Scheier & Carver, 1985 ).”
Result
Psychological capital as a mediator of the relationship between leadership and creative performance behaviors: empirical evidence from the Indian R&D sector
Gupta, V., & Singh, S. (2014) · The International Journal of Human Resource Management · doi:10.1080/09585192.2013.870311 · Cited by 135
“A new scale was developed for this study based on the works of Scheier and Carver (1985), Wagnild and Young (1993), Snyder et al. (1996) and Tierney and Farmer (2002).”
Method
Validating the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Indonesia's general population and coronary heart disease patients
Ginting, H., Näring, G. W. B., van der Veld, W. M., Srisayekti, W., & Becker, E. S. (2013) · International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology · doi:10.1016/s1697-2600(13)70028-0 · Cited by 133
“For the total of all respondents, the Indo BDI-II shows a significantly positive correlation with the DS14 (r = .52, p .01) and with the BAI (r = .52, p .01) and a significantly negative correlation with the MSPSS (r = - .39, p .01) and LOT-R (r = -.46, p .01).”
Influential
The Pathways Study: a prospective study of breast cancer survivorship within Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Kwan, M. L., Ambrosone, C. B., Lee, M. M., Barlow, J., Krathwohl, S. E., Ergas, I. J., Ashley, C. H., Bittner, J. R., Darbinian, J. A., Stronach, K., et al. (2008) · Cancer Causes & Control · doi:10.1007/s10552-008-9170-5 · Cited by 131
“In addition, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [26] as well as a 12-question scale developed by Scheier and Carver [27] measure symptoms of depression during the past seven days and dispositional optimism, respectively.”
Method
Differential Immune System Changes with Acute and Persistent Stress for Optimists vs Pessimists
Cohen, F., Kearney, K. A., Zegans, L. S., Kemeny, M. E., Neuhaus, J. M., & Stites, D. P. (1999) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1006/brbi.1998.0531 · Cited by 133
Further evidence for individual differences in placebo responding: An interactionist perspective
Geers, A. L., Kosbab, K., Helfer, S. G., Weiland, P. E., & Wellman, J. A. (2007) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.12.005 · Cited by 134
Self-Confidence in College Students: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Behavioral Implications
Shrauger, J. S., & Schohn, M. (1995) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/1073191195002003006 · Cited by 158
Taking positive changes seriously
Aspinwall, L. G., & MacNamara, A. (2005) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.21244 · Cited by 133
The bright side of managerial over-optimism
Hilary, G., Hsu, C., Segal, B., & Wang, R. (2016) · Journal of Accounting and Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jacceco.2016.04.001 · Cited by 136
“Scheier and Carver (1985) and Scheier et al. (1994), suggest that while the degree of optimistic bias may vary from one setting to the next, dispositional optimism is a psychological characteristic that lies at the core of an individual’s outlook on life in general.”
Background
Planning, personality, and prediction: The role of future focus in optimistic time predictions
Buehler, R., & Griffin, D. W. (2003) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/s0749-5978(03)00089-x · Cited by 135
“The measure of optimism used in the present research was the Life Orientation Test (LOT) (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Cultural variations in optimistic and pessimistic bias: Do Easterners really expect the worst and Westerners really expect the best when predicting future life events?
Chang, E. C., Asakawa, K., & Sanna, L. J. (2001) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.81.3.476 · Cited by 140
Physical symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are exacerbated by the stress of Hurricane Andrew
Lutgendorf, S. K., Antoni, M. H., Ironson, G., Fletcher, M. A., Penedo, F., Baum, A., Schneiderman, N., & Klimas, N. (1995) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-199507000-00002 · Cited by 131
In learning mode? The role of mindsets in derailing and enabling experiential leadership development
Heslin, P. A., & Keating, L. A. (2016) · The Leadership Quarterly · doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2016.10.010 · Cited by 156
Coping among older‐adult, long‐term cancer survivors
Deimling, G. T., Wagner, L. J., Bowman, K. F., Sterns, S., Kercher, K., & Kahana, B. (2005) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.931 · Cited by 139
“Instead, most research has, and continues to, focus on the immediate and short-term effects of cancer, primarily at diagnosis, during treatment or during the first year after treatment (Stanton et al., 2002). Bloom (2002) indicates that one reason for the relatively little attention given to the QOL of longterm cancer…”
Background
The quality of life of African American women with breast cancer
Northouse, L., Caffey, M., Deichelbohrer, L., Schmidt, L., Guziatek-Trojniak, L., West, S. K., Kershaw, T., & Mood, D. (1999) · Research in Nursing & Health · doi:10.1002/1098-240x(199912)22:6 · Cited by 133
Personal nostalgia, world view, memory, and emotionality
Batcho, K. I. (1998) · Perceptual and Motor Skills · doi:10.2466/pms.1998.87.2.411 · Cited by 133
“Contrary to expectations according to such theories, those in the H ~ g h Nostalgia group did not rate themselves as significantly less happy than &d those in the Low Nostalgia group. Nawas and Platt's (1965) conceptuahzation of nostalgia as concern over or dread of the future might suggest that”
Result
Optimism Is Universal: Exploring the Presence and Benefits of Optimism in a Representative Sample of the World
Gallagher, M. W., Lopez, S. J., & Pressman, S. D. (2012) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12026 · Cited by 130
A systematic review of instruments related to family caregivers of palliative care patients
Hudson, P., Trauer, T., Graham, S., Grande, G., Ewing, G., Payne, S. A., Stajduhar, K., & Thomas, K. (2010) · Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1177/0269216310373167 · Cited by 138
The Relationships Between Self-Leadership and Enhanced Psychological, Health, and Work Outcomes
Dolbier, C. L., Soderstrom, M., & Steinhardt, M. A. (2001) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980109603713 · Cited by 131
Community gardening: Stress, well-being, and resilience potentials
Koay, W. I., & Dillon, D. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17186740 · Cited by 132
“Optimism is a construct defining as a generalized inclination to expect and anticipate positive outcomes in one’s life or future events, with pessimism at the opposite end of the spectrum [129].”
Background
Integrating Positive and Clinical Psychology: Viewing Human Functioning as Continua from Positive to Negative Can Benefit Clinical Assessment, Interventions and Understandings of Resilience
Johnson, J., & Wood, A. M. (2015) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-015-9728-y · Cited by 143
“2008), and optimism (Scheier and Carver 1985), which are”
Background
Distinguishing Relational Aspects of Character Strengths with Subjective and Psychological Well-being
Häusler, M., Strecker, C., Huber, A., Brenner, M., Höge, T., & Höfer, S. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01159 · Cited by 144
“Optimism: Optimism is defined as expecting positive things in life and thinking optimistically about the future instead of having pessimistic expectations (Pearlin and Schooler, 1978; Scheier and Carver, 1985; Diener et al., 2009).”
Background
Benevolent Images of God, Gratitude, and Physical Health Status
Krause, N., Emmons, R. A., & Ironson, G. (2015) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0063-0 · Cited by 130
A model of pain and anxiety associated with acute stressors: Distress in dental procedures
Litt, M. D. (1996) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(96)00015-0 · Cited by 130
An Integrational Model of Quality of Life in Older Age. Results from the ESRC/MRC HSRC Quality of Life Survey in Britain
Bowling, A., & Gabriel, Z. (2004) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1023/b:soci.0000032656.01524.07 · Cited by 131
Coping and Depression in Old Age: A Literature Review
Bjørkløf, G. H., Engedal, K., Selbæk, G., Kouwenhoven, S. E., & Helvik, A.-S. (2013) · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders · doi:10.1159/000346633 · Cited by 130
Optimism, dietary habits, body mass index and smoking among young Finnish adults
Kelloniemi, H., Ek, E., & Laitinen, J. (2005) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2005.05.001 · Cited by 129
Negative problem orientation (Part I): psychometric properties of a new measure
Robichaud, M., & Dugas, M. J. (2004) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.02.007 · Cited by 129
Hope
Miceli, M., & Castelfranchi, C. (2010) · Theory & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959354309354393 · Cited by 145
“…about one’s agency (i.e., one’s capability to obtain what one wants) and about one’s pathways (i.e., one’s capability to identify means and strategies to get the desired goals), which encompasses both self-efficacy beliefs (Bandura, 1997) and positive outcome expectancies (Scheier & Carver, 1985).”
Background
Distinguishing defensive pessimism from depression: Negative expectations and positive coping mechanisms
Showers, C. J., & Ruben, C. (1990) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/bf01172934 · Cited by 127
“with impaired performance (Bandura, 1982; Feather, 1966; Rotter, 1966), poor health outcomes ( Scheier & Carver, 1985, 1987 ), poor coping (Goodhart, 1985), and depression (Alloy & Ahrens, 1987; Beck, 1967, 1976).”
Method effects due to social desirability as a parsimonious explanation of the deviation from unidimensionality in LOT-R scores
Rauch, W. A., SCHWEIZER, K. W., & Moosbrugger, H. (2006) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.10.035 · Cited by 142
“…concerning the psychological and physiological benefits of optimism its most widely used measurement instrument, the Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985), has been the focus of an as yet unresolved debate: from the beginning, the unidimensionality of the LOT has been questioned…”
BackgroundMethod
Stress, Self‐Esteem, Hope, Optimism, and Well‐Being in Urban, Ethnic Minority Adolescents
Vacek, K. R., Coyle, L. D., & Vera, E. M. (2010) · Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development · doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.2010.tb00118.x · Cited by 140
Constipation and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Postmenopausal Women
Salmoirago‐Blotcher, E., Crawford, S. L., Jackson, E. A., Ockene, J. K., & Ockene, I. S. (2011) · The American Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2011.03.026 · Cited by 132
Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Sears, S. F., Lewis, T. S., Kuhl, E. A., & Conti, J. B. (2005) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1176/appi.psy.46.5.451 · Cited by 128

Authors: Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S.
Affiliations: Carnegie Mellon University (US)
ORCID: Scheier, Michael F.
Carver, Charles S.
Venue: Health Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1985
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
Pages: 219-247
ISSN: 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
1930-7810
DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.4.3.219
OpenAlex: W2170246810
Cited by: 6,690
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 155 · 2025: 235 · 2024: 198 · 2023: 218 · 2022: 288 · 2021: 287 · 2020: 320 · 2019: 263 · 2018: 241 · 2017: 222 · 2016: 295 · 2015: 277 · 2014: 274 · 2013: 261 · 2012: 272
FWCI: 24.81
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Science Foundation
Carnegie Mellon University
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
Keywords: dispositional optimism, optimism scale, psychometric properties, coping, somatic symptoms, symptom reporting, private self-consciousness, undergraduate students, health
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Attitude, Female, Humans, Male, Personality, Psychological Tests, Psychometrics, Psychophysiologic Disorders, Self Concept, Set, Psychology, Social Perception

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks