DISTINGUISHING OPTIMISM FROM PESSIMISM IN OLDER ADULTS - IS IT MORE IMPORTANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC OR NOT TO BE PESSIMISTIC

Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the Life Orientation Test ( LOT) consisted of separate Optimism and Pessimism factors among middle -aged and older adults. Although the two factors were significantly ne gatively correlated among individuals facing a profound life challenge (i.e., caregiving), they were only weakly correlated among noncaregiv ers. Caregivers also expressed less optimism than noncaregivers and sh owed a trend toward greater pessimism, suggesting that life stress may affect these dispositions. Pessimism, not optimism, uniquely predicte d subsequent psychological and physical health; however, optimism and pessimism were equally predictive for stressed and nonstressed samples . By exploring optimism and pessimism separately researchers may bette r determine whether the beneficial effects of optimism result from thi nking optimistically, avoiding pessimistic thinking, or a combination of the two.