Associations of positive orientation with health and psychosocial adaptation: A review of findings and perspectives
Open accessAbstract
Earlier findings have shown that positive evaluations about oneself, life, and future are related to each other and can be traced to a common latent dimension originally named positive orientation and then positivity. Further findings have led to the development of an eight‐item scale that allows a direct measurement of positivity. A review is presented of the major findings that point to positivity as a basic self‐evaluative disposition and that attest to its relevant impact across domains of functioning. Finally, possible avenues for promoting positivity and to allow individuals to fully benefit from it are discussed.
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Positivity is a promising predictor of optimal functioning and may act as a protective factor against mental illness.
“Positivity as a basic self−evaluative disposition seems to be a promising predictor of optimal functioning, as well as may act as a protective factor against mental illness (Alessandri et al., 2012b; Caprara et al., 2017, 2018).”
From Dealing With the Pandemic of COVID-19 in Portugal: On the Important Role of Positivity, Experiential Avoidance, and Coping Strategies (2021) · cites this paper as Caprara et al., 2018
The Discussion (page not supplied) says positive orientation may contribute to optimal functioning and protect people facing challenges and stress. The paper also reports a negative association with depression, but it does not establish protection against mental illness generally; its Abstract cautions that positivity is not the opposite of depression. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Ferreira, M. J., Sofia, R., Carreno, D. F., Eisenbeck, N., Jongenelen, I., & Cruz, J. F. A. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647984 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Godoy-Izquierdo, D., González-Hernández, J., Rodríguez-Tadeo, A., Lara, R., Ogallar, A., Navarrón, E., Ramírez, M. J., López-Mora, C., & Arbinaga, F. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17124186 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
- Authors
- Caprara, G. V., Alessandri, G., & Caprara, M.
- Affiliations
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia Madrid Madrid Spain
- Corresponding author
- Caprara, Gian Vittorio
- Venue
- Asian Journal Of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-06-19
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 126-132
- ISSN
- 1367-2223 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-839X
- OpenAlex
- W2809432845
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 10.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Asian Journal Of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Sapienza University of Rome to Guido Alessandri (1081/2016)
- 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 › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
- Keywords
- positive orientation, positivity, self-assessment, self-esteem, life satisfaction, future orientation, psychosocial adjustment, health, positive psychology, scale development
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