There is considerable evidence that optimism, the predisposition to have generalized favorable expectancies for the future, is associated with numerous desirable outcomes. Few studies have examined the association of optimism with emotional distress following the death of a loved one. Doing so is important, because optimism may be an important target for interventions for post-loss psychopathol...

Self-efficacy, optimism and social support have been consistently related to health and functioning. In this study a specific hypothesis was tested: self-efficacy expectations, as a representation of a capable self, and perceived social support, as a representation of a helpful world, shape optimism which is an outcome expectation. Optimism in turn predicts satisfaction with life and depressive...

Converging evidence identifies trait optimism and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) as personality and brain factors influencing anxiety, but the nature of their relationships remains unclear. Here, the mechanisms underlying the protective role of trait optimism and of increased OFC volume against symptoms of anxiety were investigated in 61 healthy subjects, who completed measures of trait optimis...

The relationship of optimism with psychological and physical well-being is a well researched topic. Maintaining an optimistic view on life has been shown to reduce depression and help with the recovery process from major surgery. Other daily life events (i.e., job performance) have been found to be positively related to high levels of optimism. The literature on optimism also provides informati...

Both discounting and optimism can induce impatient behavior in the present. This paper derives equivalences between classes of discount functions and classes of (possibly erroneous) sets of beliefs in a standard intertemporal choice context. We find that strong assumptions about beliefs are generically necessary for identification of the discount function.

The relationship between optimism, abstinence self-efficacy, and self-mastery was examined by investigating levels of these cognitive resources among two samples of recovering substance abusers: Oxford House residents who attended twelve-step groups and twelve-step members who had never lived in an Oxford House. Participants 'levels of optimism were significantly and positively related to both ...

C perplexes the world. The country’s rapid rise to global economic power poses an important set of questions regarding how one should perceive the transformation of the international system in light of this epochal change: —Is China on track to become a new superpower? If so, how will this transform the global economic and political landscape? —Will this ongoing power shift be comparable in sca...

While both sleep and optimism have been found to be predictive of well-being, few studies have examined their relationship with each other. Neither do we know much about the mediators and moderators of the relationship. This study investigated (1) the causal relationship between sleep quality and optimism in a college student sample, (2) the role of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress a...