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. 2020 Jan;32(1):135-139.
doi: 10.1017/S1041610219000498.

The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

Michael D Barnett  1 , Ellen A Anderson  2
Affiliations
Free article

The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

Michael D Barnett et al. Int Psychogeriatr. 2020 Jan.
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: Optimism and pessimism are distinct constructs that have demonstrated independent relationships with aspects of health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether optimism or pessimism is more closely linked with physical and mental health among older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Participants: Community-dwelling older adults (N = 272) ages 59-95 in the southern United States.

Measurements: The Life Orientation Test-Revised and the Short Form 8.

Results: At the bivariate level, optimism was associated with higher physical health and mental health, while pessimism was associated with lower physical health and mental health. Multiple-regression analyses as well as comparison of correlation coefficients found that pessimism was more closely associated with physical health and mental health than optimism.

Conclusions: These results add to the literature suggesting that, in terms of older adults' health and well-being, avoiding pessimism may be more important than being optimistic.

Keywords: mental health; physical health.

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