Baranski, E. orcid.org/0000-0002-2853-7841, Sweeny, K. orcid.org/0000-0002-6653-422X, Gardiner, G. et al. (1 more author) (2021) International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries. Journal of Personality, 89 (2). pp. 288-304. ISSN 0022-3506
Abstract
Objective
The current exploratory study sought to examine dispositional optimism, or the general expectation for positive outcomes, around the world.
Method
Dispositional optimism and possible correlates were assessed across 61 countries (N = 15,185; mean age = 21.92; 77% female). Mean-level differences in optimism were computed along with their relationships with individual and country-level variables.
Results
Worldwide, mean optimism levels were above the midpoint of the scale. Perhaps surprisingly, country-level optimism was negatively related to gross domestic product per capita, population density, and democratic norms and positively related to income inequality and perceived corruption. However, country-level optimism was positively related to projected economic improvement. Individual-level optimism was positively related to individual well-being within every country, although this relationship was less strong in countries with challenging economic and social circumstances.
Conclusions
While individuals around the world are generally optimistic, societal characteristics appear to affect the degree to which their optimism is associated with psychological well-being, sometimes in seemingly anomalous ways.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:Baranski, E, Sweeny, K, Gardiner, G, Funder, DC; Members of the International Situations Project. International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries. Journal of Personality. 2021; 89: 288–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12582, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12582. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | cross-cultural, dispositional optimism, well-being |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Nov 2023 12:07 |
Last Modified: | 17 Nov 2023 12:07 |
Published Version: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopy.1... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/jopy.12582 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:205209 |