OPTIMISM, VULNERABILITY, AND SELF-BELIEFS AS HEALTH-RELATED COGNITIONS - A SYSTEMATIC OVERVIEW

This paper disentangles a number of closely related cognitions by divi ding them into the categories of defensive and functional optimism. Op timistic biases in risk perception are discussed that may represent ba rriers in the adoption of preventive health behaviors. Instead of defe nsive optimism, some sense of vulnerability is wen as indispensable fo r behavioral change operating jointly with beliefs about positive heal th outcomes, instrumental actions, and appropriate coping resources. A distinction is made between three kinds of functional optimism that d epend either on attributional style, outcome expectancies, or personal agency. Findings are presented that corroborate the strength of these constructs in predicting health outcomes. In terms of health behavior change, it is argued that optimistic self-beliefs are the most benefi cial because of their operative power that helps to set goals, initiat e actions, and maintain motivation.