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. 2008 Mar;44(4):853-864.
doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2007.10.016.

The Predictive Validity of Optimism and Affectivity in a Longitudinal Study of Older Adults

Yael Benyamini  1 , Ilan Roziner
Affiliations

The Predictive Validity of Optimism and Affectivity in a Longitudinal Study of Older Adults

Yael Benyamini et al. Pers Individ Dif. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

The current study tested the independence of dispositional optimism and pessimism from negative and positive affectivity in the prediction of older adults' well-being, concurrently and five years later, using structural equation modeling. As hypothesized, in a community sample, both optimism/pessimism and affectivity were correlated cross-sectionally and prospectively with outcomes representing general health and well-being (self-rated health, somatic depression and life satisfaction). However, with both sets of predictors in the model, affectivity eliminated the relationships of optimism/pessimism with the outcomes. Our proposed explanation for these findings, derived from the theoretical self-regulation model, also explains the seemingly contradictory previous findings of an independent contribution of dispositional optimism in patient samples coping with specific stressors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural equation model of the associations between optimism and three outcome variables (standardized parameter estimates), χ2 (320, N = 525)=453.79, p<.001, NNFI=.964, CFI=.970, RMSEA=.028, SRMR=.046. In this and the next figures: Solid lines represent statistically significant paths (p<.05). Broken lines represent paths that are not statistically significant. Measured indicators, their errors, and correlations between measurement errors of the same indicators at two times are not shown. All R-squared values are statistically significant at p<.01.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural equation model of the associations between affect and three outcome variables (standardized parameter estimates), χ2 (320, N=525)= 444.67, p<.001, NNFI=.976, CFI=.980, RMSEA=.027, SRMR=.055.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structural equation model of the associations between optimism and affect and three outcome variables (standardized parameter estimates), χ2 (684, N=525)=893.30, p<.001, NNFI=.971, CFI=.975, RMSEA=.024, SRMR=.049.
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