International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries

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 diffe...

Full description

Autores:
Baranski, Erica
Sweeny, Kate
Gardiner, Gwendolyn
Funder, David
Beramendi, Maite Regina
Bastian, Brock
Neubauer, Aljoscha
Cortez, Diego
Roth, Erick
Torres, Ana Raquel Rosas
Zanini, Daniela S.
Petkova, Kristina G.
Tipo de recurso:
Article of investigation
Fecha de publicación:
2021
Institución:
Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales U.D.C.A
Repositorio:
Repositorio Institucional UDCA
Idioma:
eng
OAI Identifier:
oai:repository.udca.edu.co:11158/4276
Acceso en línea:
https://repository.udca.edu.co/handle/11158/4276
https //doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12582
Palabra clave:
Optimismo
Bienestar personal
Adultos
Estudios transculturales
Rights
closedAccess
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.es
Description
Summary: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