Estudio del efecto del optimismo disposicional en el bienestar físico y psicológico desde una perspectiva longitudinal

  1. Sanjuán Suárez, Pilar
  2. Magallares Sanjuán, Alejandro
Journal:
Acción psicológica

ISSN: 1578-908X

Year of publication: 2006

Volume: 4

Issue: 1

Pages: 47-55

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5944/AP.4.1.492 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: Acción psicológica

Abstract

The first goal of the present study was to analyse the relationship between dispositional optimism and the physical and depressive symptoms reported. Additionally, we wanted to know the one or two-dimension structure of the most widely used instrument to assess optimism, the Life Orientation Test (LOT). Measures were taken at the beginning of the course (time 1) and one week before of beginning of partial and eliminatory exams (time 2). The time gap between the first and the second evaluation was 77 days. The results showed that subjects with high scores in optimism as well as those with low scores in pessimism reported less depressive and physical symptoms than individuals with low scores in optimism or high scores in pessimism respectively. These results were obtained in both time 1 and time 2. These and other data suggest that the LOT only assesses one dimension. The protective role of dispositional optimism on psychological and physical health is discussed.

Bibliographic References

  • Ai, A.L., Peterson, C., Tice, T.N., Bolling, S.F. y Koening, H.G. (2004). Faith-based and secular pathways to hope and optimism subconstructs in middle-aged and older cardiac patients. Journal of Health Psychology, 9, 435-450.
  • Andersson, G. (1996). The benefits of optimism: A meta-analytic review of the Life Orientation Test. Personality and Individual Differences, 21, 719- 725.
  • Aspinwall, L.G., Richter, L. y Hoffman, R.R. (2001). Understanding how optimism works: An examination of optimists’ adaptive moderation of belief and behavior. En E.C. Chang (ed.), Optimism and pessimism: Implications for theory, research, and practice (pp. 217-239). Washington, DC: APA.
  • Aspinwal, L.G. y Taylor, S.E. (1992). Modeling cognitive adaptation: A longitudinal investigation of the impact of individual differences and coping on college adjustment and performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 989-1003.
  • Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F. y Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. Nueva York: Guilford Press.
  • Bermúdez, J. (2003). Personalidad, procesos psicológicos y conductas de salud. En J. Bermúdez, A.M. Pérez García y P. Sanjuán (eds), Psicología de la personalidad: Teoría e investigación. Vol. II (pp. 401-439). Madrid: UNED.
  • Boman, P. y Yates, G.C. (2001). Optimism, hostility, and adjustment in the first year of high school. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 71, 401- 411.
  • Boman, P., Smith, D.C. y Curtis, D. (2003). Effects of pessimism and explanatory style on development of anger in children. School Psychology International, 24, 80-94.
  • Carver, C.S. y Gaines, J.G. (1987). Optimism, pessimism, and postpartum depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 11, 449-462.
  • Carver, C.S., Pozo, C., Harris, S.D., Noriega, V., Scheier, M.F., Robinson, D.S., Ketcham, A.S., Moffat, F.L. y Clark, K. (1993). How coping mediates the effect of optimism on distress: a study of women with early stage breast cancer. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 375-390.
  • Chang, E.C., D’Zurilla, T.J. y Maydeu-Olivares, A. (1994). Assessing the dimensionality of optimism and pessimism using a multimeasure approach. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 18,143-160.
  • Chico, E. (2002). Optimismo disposicional como predictor de estrategias de afrontamiento. Psicothema, 14, 544-550.
  • Dember, W.N. (2001). The optimism-pessimism instrument: Personal and social correlates. En E.C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimism: Implications for theory, research, and practice (pp. 281- 299). Washington, DC: APA.
  • Dingfelder, R.T. (2003). The relation of optimism, stress, and physical health in an adolescent population. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63(7-B), 3469.
  • Fernández, E. y Bermúdez, J. (1999). Estructura factorial del optimismo y pesimismo. Boletín de Psicología, 63, 7-26.
  • Fontaine, K.R. y Jones, L.C. (1997). Self-esteem, optimism, and postpartum depression. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 59-63.
  • Hart, K.E. y Hittner, J.B. (1995). Optimism and pessimism: Associations to coping and anger reactivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 827-839.
  • King, K.B., Rowe, M.A., Kimble, L.P. y Zerwic, J.J. (1998). Optimism, coping, and long-term recovery from coronary artery surgery in women. Research in Nursing and Health, 21, 15-26.
  • Marshall, G.N., Wortman, C.B., Kusulas, J.W., Herving, L.K. y Vickers, R.R. (1992). Distinguishing optimism from pessimism: Relations to fundamental dimensions of mood and personality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 1067-1074.
  • Milam, J.E., Richardson, J.L., Marks, G., Kemper, C.A. y McCutchan, A.J. (2004). The roles of dispositional optimism and pessimism in HIV disease progression. Psychology and Health, 19, 167- 181.
  • Park, C.L., Moore, P.J., Turner, R.A. y Adler, N.E. (1997). The roles of constructive thinking and optimism in psychological and behavioral adjustment during pregnancy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 584-592.
  • Räikkönen, K., Matthews, K.A., Flory, J.D., Owens, J.F. y Gump, B.B. (1999). Effects of optimism, pessimism, and trait anxiety on ambulatory blood pressure and mood during everyday life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 104-113.
  • Robinson-Whelen, S., Kim, C., MacCallum, R.C. y Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K. (1997). Distinguishing optimism from pessimism in older adults: Is it more important to be optimistic or not to be pessimistic? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 1345-1353.
  • Roysamb, E. y Strype, J. (2002). Optimism and pessimism: Underlying structure and dimensionality. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 21, 1-19.
  • Salovey, P., Rothman, A.J., Detweider, J.B. y Steward, W.T. (2000). Emotional states and physical health. American Psychologist, 55, 110-121.
  • Sanjuán, P. y Pérez García, A.M. (2003). Personalidad y vida afectiva I: Afectos positivos. En J. Bermúdez, A.M. Pérez García y P. Sanjuán (eds.), Psicología de la personalidad: Teoría e investigación, Vol. II (pp. 21-54). Madrid: UNED.
  • Sanz, J. y Vázquez, C. (1998). Fiabilidad, validez y datos normativos del Inventario para la depresión de Beck. Psicothema, 10, 303-318.
  • Scheier, M.F. y Carver, C.S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health: assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219-247.
  • Scheier, M.F. y Carver, C.S. (1987). Dispositional optimism and physical well-being: The influence of generalized outcome expectancy on health. Journal of Personality, 55, 169-210.
  • Scheier, M.F. y Carver, C.S. (1992). Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well-being: Theoretical overview and empirical update. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 16, 201-228.
  • Scheier, M.F., Carver, C.S. y Bridges, M.W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063- 1078.
  • Scheier, M.F.; Carver, C.S. y Bridges, M.W. (2001). Optimism, pessimism, and psychological well- being. En E.C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimism: Implications for theory, research, and practice (pp. 189-216). Washington, DC: APA.
  • Scheier, M.F., Matthews, J.K., Owens, J.F., Magovern, G.F., Lefebvre, R.C., Abbott, R.A. y Carver, C.S. (1989). Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: The beneficial effects on physical and psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1024-1040.
  • Scheier, M.F., Matthews, K.A., Owens, J.F., Magovern, G.J., Lefebvre, R.C., Abbott, R.A. y Carver, C.S. (2003). Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: the beneficial effects on physical and phychological well-being. En P. Salovey y A.J. Rothman (eds.), Social psychology of health (pp. 342-361). Nueva York: Psychology Press.
  • Schou, I. Ekeberg, O. Ruland, C.M. Sandvik, L. y Karesen, R. (2004). Pessimism as a predictor of emotional morbidity one year following breast cancer surgery. Psychooncology, 13, 309-320
  • Segerstrom, S.C., Taylor, S.E., Kemeny, M.E. y Fahey, J.L. (1998). Optimism is associated with mood, coping, and immune change in response to stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1646-1655.
  • Shepperd, J.A., Maroto, J.J. y Pbert, L.A. (1996). Dispositional optimism as a predictor of health changes among cardiac patients. Journal of Research in Personality, 30, 517-534.
  • Stewart, S.M., Betson, C., Lam, T.H., Marshall, I.B., Lee, P.W. y Wong, C.M. (1997). Predicting stress in first year medical student: A longitudinal study. Medical Education, 3, 163-168.
  • Tomakowsky, J., Lumley, M.A., Markowitz, N, y Frank, C. (2001). Optimistic explanatory style and dispositional optimism in HIV-infected men. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 51, 577- 587.
  • Vautier, S., Raufaste, E. y Cariou, M. (2003). Dimensionality of the Revised Life Orientation Test and the status of filler items. International Journal of Psychology, 38, 390-400.
  • Vázquez, C. y Sanz, J. (1997). Fiabilidad y valores normativos de la versión española del Inventario para la depresión de Beck de 1978. Clínica y Salud, 8, 403-422.
  • Williams, D.G. (1992). Dispositional optimism, neuroticism, and extraversion. Personality and Individual Differences, 13, 475-477.
  • Wrosch, C. y Scheier, M.F. (2003). Personality and quality of life: The importance of optimism and goal adjustment. Quality of Life Research, 12, 59-72.
Data source: Dialnet