Optimism and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Well-Being

Abstract

Many studies have been carried out about the effectiveness of optimism as a psychological phenomenon, leading to various theoretical formulations of the same concept, conceptualized as "disposition", "attributional style", "cognitive bias", or "shared illusion". This overview is an attempt to explore the "optimism" concept and its relations with mental health, physical health, coping, quality of life and adaptation of purpose, health lifestyle and risk perception.Positive and negative expectations regarding the future are important for understanding the vulnerability to mental disorders, in particular mood and anxiety disorders, as well as to physical illness. A significant positive relation emerges between optimism and coping strategies focused on social support and emphasis on positive aspects of stressful situations. Through employment of specific coping strategies, optimism exerts an indirect influence also on the quality of life. There is evidence that optimistic people present a higher quality of life compared to those with low levels of optimism or even pessimists. Optimism may significantly influence mental and physical well-being by the promotion of a healthy lifestyle as well as by adaptive behaviours and cognitive responses, associated with greater flexibility, problem-solving capacity and a more efficient elaboration of negative information.

Are first‐year nursing students' lifestyles coherent with their future career?

“…The UdeA students had almost twice as many positive thinkers as those of the US. It is known that optimism is related to both better mental and physical health (Conversano et al, ), as well as that nurses who are optimistic perform better professionally (Luthans, Lebsack, & Lebsack, ). A nurse, as the centre of the health team, must help in preserving a work atmosphere in which healthy interpersonal relations are fostered.…”

Review of Optimism, Creativity, and Spirituality in Tourism Research

“…Optimism offers diverse benefits such as a) the promotion of positive attitudes; b) boosts tenacity when dealing with difficulties and c) an optimistic is more prone to take better care of his/her health (Hasnain, Wazid & Hasan, 2014). Optimists are more positive about what happens in their everyday lives and Peterson and Seligman's theory considers it as an attributional style that describes negative events as inconstant, external, temporary and specific (Conversano, Rotondo, Lensi, Vista, Arpone & Reda, 2010). Optimism is related to better health (mentally and physically), academic success and job performance (Hershberger, 2005) and linked to coping, satisfaction and wellbeing (Norem & Chang, 2002).…”

Psychological Factors as Predictors of Adjustment to Life of People With Chronic Diseases

“…Outros investigadores (Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom, 2010) verificaram que níveis mais elevados de otimismo foram prospectivamente associados ao aumento do BES. O otimismo pode influenciar significativamente o bem-estar físico e mental através da promoção de um estilo de vida saudável, bem como comportamentos adaptativos e respostas cognitivas associadas com maior flexibilidade, capacidade de resolução de problemas, e um tratamento mais eficiente da informação negativa (Conversano et al, 2010).…”