OPTIMISM AND SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS - A CROSS-CULTURAL-STUDY

This research examined the relationship between optimism and socioecon omic status (SES) in a sample ((N) under bar=245) of Anglo- and Mexica n-Americans. Study 1 found small but significant correlations between both situational (measured by the Generalized Expectancy for Success S cale-Revised; GESS-R) and dispositional optimism (measured by the Life Orientation Test; LOT) and SES. Correlations were stronger for Anglo- Americans than for the sample as a whole and were not statistically si gnificant for Mexican-American subjects. Study 2 used a purely Mexican -American sample ((N) under bar=254), performed exploratory factor ana lysis on both the LOT and GESS-R, and correlated the rotated factor sc ores with SES. A GESS-R factor involving themes of social interaction correlated positively with SES ((r) under bar=.17). Results are interp reted in terms of cultural differences between the two ethnic groups, particularly in light of the collectivist/individualist culture dichot omy.