Is pessimism a risk factor for depressive mood among community-dwelling older adults?

This study examined two senses in which pessimism might be a risk factor fo r depressive mood among older adults. The first was that a pessimistic expl anatory style would predict changes toward depressive mood when combined wi th stressful life events. The second was that predictive pessimism, or thin king that bad events will happen in the future, would predict changes in de pressive symptoms. We found an interaction between explanatory style and li fe stressors, but it was the optimists who were at higher risk for depressi ve symptoms after negative life events. We also found support for predictiv e pessimism, however, as a predictor of depressive symptoms over time. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.