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Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? Should you rewind to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are high you skilled some degree of pessimism. And who may blame you? With social isolation, well being issues and financial uncertainty, worry and nervousness turned a every day actuality for a lot of.
A group of researchers from Syracuse College and Michigan State College just lately explored the private traits that assist individuals deal with extended stressors, such because the pandemic. Led by Jeewon Oh, assistant professor of psychology in Syracuse College’s School of Arts and Sciences, the group delved into optimism and pessimism and the way these mindsets affect well-being.
The group utilized knowledge from the Well being and Retirement Research, a large-scale panel research that gathers a nationally consultant pattern of People aged 50 and older. In 2016, contributors responded to questions assessing their ranges of optimism, corresponding to “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best,” and pessimism, corresponding to “I hardly ever expect things to go my way.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (between March and Might 2020), respondents answered questions on health-related behaviors that both elevated or lowered the danger of COVID transmission, together with masking frequency, journey habits and the probability of staying dwelling.
The group used this knowledge to discover how individuals’s mindsets affected their psychological and bodily well-being throughout difficult occasions. Amongst their findings, they discovered that larger optimism promotes resilience and well-being when confronted with stressors just like the pandemic, whereas decrease pessimism is linked to safer well being behaviors. Their findings appeared within the Journal of Analysis in Character.
Within the following Q&A, Professor Jeewon Oh shares some key insights from their analysis.
What was the motivation for this research?
The pandemic launched many modifications, and we wished to know extra about persona traits that may assist individuals deal with enduring and uncontrollable stressors just like the pandemic. We examined optimism, as a result of it motivates motion. Since optimists view hectic conditions positively, they’re extra more likely to straight handle the difficulty or attempt to adapt when issues are uncontrollable.
What have been the advantages for individuals who have been extra optimistic? How did optimism/pessimism correlate with well-being throughout the pandemic?
Each optimism and pessimism had unbiased associations with psychological well-being. So, people who find themselves extra optimistic and fewer pessimistic apprehensive much less, have been much less harassed and lonely and have been extra resilient. This was partly as a result of these individuals engaged in additional bodily exercise and perceived extra social assist and fewer pressure from their relationships.
Curiously, when it got here to COVID/health-relevant behaviors, pessimism performed a big function, however optimism did not. In different phrases, people with a much less pessimistic mindset (however not a extra optimistic mindset), who’ve weaker adverse expectations tended to have interaction in much less dangerous behaviors, corresponding to touring, and extra actions at dwelling starting from watching TV and gardening to meditating.
How does optimism or pessimism affect the way in which individuals strategy challenges and setbacks?
Normally, common optimism/pessimism is not about pondering they would not get sick, or they are going to be extra more likely to get sick (in comparison with others), however about understanding the truth and nonetheless pondering that issues will ultimately work out. This optimistic mindset helps individuals to problem-solve and cope. In spite of everything, for those who assume issues would by no means work out, why would you even attempt?
Is there a approach to increase one’s optimism throughout occasions when they could be extra anxious, like throughout the pandemic?
It may be simpler to consider doing what optimists do somewhat than attempting to assume in a different way (or change your optimism). So, individuals with decrease pessimism talked about altering their behaviors to adapt to the scenario, assembly with individuals on Zoom extra continuously and exercising at dwelling (vs. going to the fitness center and assembly up with individuals in individual). It was these modifications in behaviors like exercising extra that partly helped individuals’s well-being.
What does this research reveal about well being and psychological well-being within the post-pandemic world? What elements can we take into account for sustaining and enhancing psychological well being?
There was proof earlier than the pandemic that optimistic individuals fare effectively in lots of conditions. Although extra analysis is required to grasp why, our research discovered that optimists fared higher even throughout new difficulties. Subsequently, creating optimism and studying how you can flexibly cope will help preserve and enhance psychological well being in numerous conditions.
Extra info:
Jeewon Oh et al, Optimism and pessimism have been prospectively related to adaptation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Journal of Analysis in Character (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104541
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Syracuse College
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Q&A: How optimism can encourage wholesome habits (2025, February 21)
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