Optimism can help deal with stressors; maintain well-being: Researchers

Developing optimism and learning how to flexibly cope can help maintain and improve mental health in diverse situations according to a new studyWith social isolation health concerns and economic uncertainty fear and anxiety have become a daily reality for many said the study published in the Journal of Research in PersonalityA team of researchers from Syracuse University and Michigan State University recently explored the personal characteristics that help people handle prolonged stressors such as the pandemicLed by Jeewon Oh assistant professor of psychology in Syracuse Universityrsquos College of Arts and Sciences the group delved into optimism and pessimism and how those mindsets influence wellbeingThe group utilised data from the Health and Retirement Study a largescale panel study that gathers a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 and olderThe team used this data to explore how peoplersquos mindsets affected their psychological and physical wellbeing during challenging timesAmong their findings they found that greater optimism promotes resilience and wellbeing when faced with stressors like the pandemic while lower pessimism is linked to safer health behavioursldquoThe pandemic introduced many changes and we wanted to know more about personality traits that can help people cope with enduring and uncontrollable stressors like the pandemic We examined optimism because it motivates actionrdquo said OhSince optimists view stressful situations positively they are more likely to directly address the issue or try to adapt when things are uncontrollableBoth optimism and pessimism had independent associations with psychological wellbeing So people who are more optimistic and less pessimistic worried less were less stressed and lonely and were more resilientThis was partly because these people engaged in more physical activity and perceived more social support and less strain from their relationships Oh addedIn general regular optimismpessimism isnt about thinking they wouldnt get sick or they will be more likely to get sick compared to others but about knowing the reality and still thinking that things will eventually work outThis positive mindset helps people to problemsolve and copeldquoOur study found that optimists fared better even during new difficultiesrdquo the researchers notedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever