Optimism-pessimism, conspiracy theories and general trust as factors contributing to COVID-19 related behavior - A cross-cultural study.

The main aim of this research was to examine the role of optimism-pessimism, general trust and belief in conspiracy theories, in COVID-19 related fears, preventive and hoarding behaviors. We also examined the role of different sources of information in these relations. The convenience sample was used (N = 412) and it consisted of individuals from Serbia (N = 292) and Latin-America (N = 120). Following instruments were used: The Life Orientation Test (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), Trust in people scale (Arbor, 1964), questions regarding fear, source of information, preventive behaviors and conspiracy constructed for the purposes of this research. The results suggest that fear of food shortage was the most pronounces one in both samples, followed by fear for oneself and finally by the fear for beloved others. Results suggest that optimists, those with high level of general trust and those who do not believe in conspiracy theories show lower level of fear and higher level of preventive behaviors. Pessimists on the other hand, show higher level of fear. Fear was related to all information sources suggesting that more information leads to higher intensity of fear - except information from the president which did not show any effect.

Predictors of depression and life satisfaction in visually impaired people.

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment can lead loss of functional ability, necessity of accommodations and assistive technologies or having to rely on others for help. This can bring about feelings of sadness, dependency, inadequacy, and fear, which can put a person at risk for depression and affect one's satisfaction with life. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of socio-demographic factors, disability-related factors, optimism, pessimism, self-esteem and social support on depression, and life satisfaction in visually impaired people. METHODS: A total of 94 visually impaired people completed the measures of socio-demographic and disability-related characteristics, optimism and pessimism, self-esteem, social support, depression and life satisfaction, administered by the authors. Correlational and hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the relations and test the model for predicting depression and life satisfaction. RESULTS: The results have shown that depression was negatively related to the level of education, optimism, self-liking, self-competence, support from friends, family and coworkers, and positively related to comorbidity and pessimism. Life satisfaction was positively related to education, socio-economic status, optimism, self-liking, self-competence and support from friends, family and coworkers, and negatively to pessimism. Results have further shown that depression levels were predicted by education, comorbidity, optimism and self-liking, and that self-liking mediated the relationship between optimism and depression. Life satisfaction was predicted by optimism, pessimism, self-liking, friends' support, and depression. Further analysis suggested that the path from optimism to life satisfaction goes through self-liking, friends' support, and depression. Pessimism showed indirect effects through self-liking but also had direct effects on life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Focusing on optimism, pessimism, self-esteem, and social functioning of visually impaired is important in preventing depression and promoting life satisfaction, and should be a part of rehabilitation practices. Implications for Rehabilitation Screening for depression and mental health problems should be a part of rehabilitation process. Changes in the perception of future outcomes should be monitored and addressed throughout rehabilitation process in order to boost realistic optimism and prevent discouragement and hopelessness. Frequent feedback and positive reinforcement about a persons' progress and ability should be given throughout rehabilitation process in order to promote positive view of oneself and prevent self-esteem problems. Visually impaired people should be encouraged to socialise outside of their families and participate in social activities. This can be integrated in rehabilitation process as a part of everyday homework.

Correlations between satisfaction with life and selected personal resources among students of Universities of the Third Age.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify personal resources, including health-related resources, sense of self-efficacy, attitude to life (optimism/pessimism) and self-assessment, and to determine their relationship with satisfaction with life in members of the Universities of the Third Age (U3As) in Poland. The impact of sociodemographic factors was analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 320 participants of U3As; their mean age was 67.5 years and the vast majority of them were women (92.5%). The study was a screening test based on a diagnostic survey using validated scales, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and a survey of own design. RESULTS: Men showed significantly higher mean SWLS scores than women. SWLS scores were found to correlate significantly with LOT-R (r=0.411; P<0.001) and GSES scores (r=0.451; P<0.001). The respondents' financial situation had a significant impact on their scores in all scales: SWLS (P<0.001), LOT-R (P<0.001) and GSES (P<0.001). Educational attainment of the respondents showed a significant correlation with SWLS (P=0.004) and GSES (P=0.011). CONCLUSION: In the process of preparation for successful aging, particular emphasis should be placed on the continuous development of an individual, as it leads to the improvement of their socioeconomic status. Also, promoting positive personality traits and responsibility for one's own life, including health, is of vital importance. The study is particularly important for the early identification of individuals at risk of unsuccessful aging.

Psychometric properties of the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and its relationship with psychological well-being and academic progress in college students / Propiedades psicométricas del Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) y su relación con el bienestar psicológico y el progreso académico en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract The aim of this study is to analyze the dimensionality of the Spanish version of the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), to examine the relationship between psychological well-being and dispositional optimism/pessimism in a sample of college students (n = 291), as well as to consider the effect of dispositional optimism/pessimism on academic progress. The results indicated that the properties of the Spanish version of the LOT-R (a= .72) were very similar to the original. The questionnaire clearly presented two partially independent factors, and the items assessing optimism demonstrated greater discriminant validity than the items assessing pessimism. Optimism was positively linked to psychological well-being and negatively related to psychological-distress. In the male students, a certain degree of preoccupation about academic results was linked to progress in studies, while excessive worry about academic progress could obstruct the successful completion of studies in the female students. These results suggest that the LOT-R can be used as a reliable and valid tool for the analysis of optimism and its positive effects on health and academic progress.

Resumen Este estudio pretende analizar la dimensionalidad de la versión española del Revised Life Orientation Test, para examinar la relación entre el bienestar psicológico y el optimismo/pesimismo disposicional en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios (n = 291) y analizar la repercusión del optimismo/pesimismo disposicional en el progreso académico. Los resultados indican que las propiedades de la versión española del Revised Life Orientation Test (a = 0.72) son muy similares a los de la versión original. El test presenta una estructura clara con dos factores parcialmente independientes, los ítems del factor optimismo tienen un poder discriminatorio mayor que los del factor de pesimismo. El optimismo está relacionado positivamente con el bienestar psicológico y negativamente con el malestar psicológico. En hombres, cierto grado de preocupación por los resultados académicos estaría relacionado con el progreso académico en los estudios, mientras que en mujeres, una excesiva preocupación académica podría ser perjudicial para finalizar con éxito los estudios. Estos resultados sugieren que el Revised Life Orientation Test puede ser un instrumento fiable y válido para analizar el optimismo y su relación con la salud y progreso académico.

Emotional variables, dropout and academic performance in Spanish nursing students.

The dropout of university studies is a main concern in many countries, also for Health Sciences degrees. The reviews on dropout in all university degrees as well as nursing generally show multidimensional causes with factors related both to institutional and students' characteristics. Regarding the personal variables of students, researchers have focused on financial, family and personality features. Far less attention has been devoted to emotional variables. This study aims to explore whether individual variables of the emotional domain such as perceived emotional intelligence, dispositional optimism/pessimism and depressive rumination are related and/or can predict students' intention to dropout and academic performance. Using a cross-correlational approach, data were obtained from a sample of 144 nursing students. Students with a pessimistic disposition revealed a greater tendency to drop out. The remaining variables correlated significantly with pessimism but had no predictive value on dropout. Our results suggest that students with low levels of emotional clarity and repair and high depressive rumination have pessimistic expectations, so they are more likely to leave studies. No significant results were found in relation to academic performance. We conclude with an identification of strategies to increase retention and academic success.