RELATIONS BETWEEN PROBLEM ORIENTATION AND OPTIMISM, PESSIMISM, AND TRAIT AFFECTIVITY - A CONSTRUCT-VALIDATION STUDY

This study investigated the construct validity of the Positive and Neg ative Problem Orientation scales of the Social Problem-Solving Invento ry-Revised (SPSI-R) by examining the relations between these scales an d measures of optimism, pessimism, and trait affectivity. Consistent w ith expectations based on social problem-solving theory, positive prob lem orientation was found to have a relatively large amount of varianc e in common with optimism and positive affectivity, and negative probl em orientation was found to share a large amount of variance with pess imism and negative affectivity, but not enough to be considered redund ant in either case. Positive problem orientation was found to add sign ificant incremental validity to the prediction of adaptive problem-eng agement coping even after partialing out the variance associated with optimism and positive affectivity. In addition, negative problem orien tation was found to add unique variance to the prediction of psycholog ical distress even after controlling for pessimism and negative affect ivity.