Convergence and predictive validity in measures of optimism and pessimism: Sequential studies

Abstract

Optimism and pessimism are personality variables that have repeatedly been shown to affect health, job performance, and social relationships. Various instruments purport to measure these dispositions that differ substantially in their theoretical and measurement models. While research has examined relations between subsets of these measures, their unique predictive ability has been neglected. Three sequential studies evaluated the interrelation and predictive ability of the three most utilized instruments, the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the O/P Instrument (OPI) and variants of the Attributionai Style Questionnaire (ASQ). Consistent with expectations, measures sharing a future-expectancy component (LOT and OPI) were moderately related and most predictive of health, depression, and coping. ASQ measures were modestly related to the LOT and OPI and offered less consistent predictions."D ositive psychology" highlights the study of individual differences variables, most .i. notably, optimism and pessimism, for better understanding of their role in physical and mental health (Seligman, 2002). Examination of the dominant optimism and pessimism theories and instruments reveals considerable variability. A chief issue in this literature has been whether optimism and pessimism are multidimensional, separate, but related constructs, or are uni-dimensional. The broad and differing temporal foci of the measurement models have also spurred significant discussion. Some instruments emphasize past outcomes as an indirect assessment for future-expectancies, others purport to directly assess future-expectancies, and a few are very broad in scope, involving present views of the self, the future, and the world (Carver & Scheier, 2003). While the interrelations between various subsets of optimism and pessimism instru-

Looking forward to helping: The effects of prospection on prosocial intentions and behavior

“…Respondents rate their agreement with ten items, such as, "Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad" and "In uncertain times, I usually expect the best" on a five point Likert scale, with response options range from 0 (Strongly disagree) to 4 (Strongly agree). This measure has demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability (ICC 5 .72;Hirsch, Britton, & Conner, 2010), convergent validity, and predictive validity for health outcomes (Reilley, Geers, Lindsay, Deronde, & Dember, 2005).…”

Estudio de la validez de la versión española del Cuestionario de Estilo Atribucional ante Situaciones Negativas [Study as to the validity of the Spanish version of Attributional Style Questionnaire for Negative Situations]

“…Se ha comprobado que el objetivo de este fenómeno, conocido como sesgo atribucional autoensalzante, es la protección de la autoestima (Campbell y Sedikides, 1999). Por otra parte, diferentes estudios han mostrado que las correlaciones entre los estilos explicativos para situaciones positivas y negativas son muy bajas (Reilley et al, 2005;Voeltz et al, 2003) y en los análisis factoriales saturan en factores diferentes e independientes (Corr y Gray, 1996;Joiner y Rudd, 1996).…”

Further Specifying the Cognitive Model of Depression: Situational Expectations and Global Cognitions as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms

“…High values indicate positive outcome expectations. The LOT-R has been shown to have good reliability and validity (Glaesmer et al, 2012;Reilley, Geers, Lindsay, Deronde, & Dember, 2005;Scheier et al, 1994). For the clinical sample from the present study, internal consistency of the LOT-R was α = .80, and for the healthy sample it was α = .73.…”