Researchers led by Syracuse University discovered that higher levels of optimism are linked to better psychological well-being and healthy habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their study underscores the impact of a positive mindset on handling prolonged stressors.
A new study highlights the powerful role optimism can play in fostering resilience and enhancing well-being, particularly during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research team, led by Jeewon Oh, an assistant professor of psychology at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, partnered with scholars from Michigan State University. Together, they explored personal traits that help individuals navigate prolonged stressors.
Their findings, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, shed light on the crucial interplay between optimism, pessimism and health-related behaviors.
Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, which surveys a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 and older, the researchers investigated how mindsets like optimism and pessimism influenced well-being during the pandemic.
The participants’ responses, collected in 2016 and then reassessed during the early months of the pandemic in 2020, provided valuable insights into their health-related behaviors and psychological states.
“The pandemic introduced many changes, and we wanted to know more about personality traits that can help people cope with enduring and uncontrollable stressors like the pandemic,” Oh said in a news release. “We examined optimism because it motivates action. Since optimists view stressful situations positively, they are more likely to directly address the issue or try to adapt when things are uncontrollable.”
The study revealed that optimism promotes resilience and well-being during prolonged stress, while lower levels of pessimism correlate with safer health behaviors.
“Both optimism and pessimism had independent associations with psychological well-being. So, people who are more optimistic and less pessimistic worried less, were less stressed and lonely and were more resilient,” Oh added. “This was partly because these people engaged in more physical activity and perceived more social support and less strain from their relationships.”
Interestingly, the researchers found that pessimism played a significant role in COVID-19 health-related behaviors, but optimism did not.
“[I]ndividuals with a less pessimistic mindset (but not a more optimistic mindset), who have weaker negative expectations, tended to engage in less risky behaviors, such as traveling, and more activities at home ranging from watching TV and gardening to meditating,” Oh added.
The study underscores the impact mindset has on how individuals approach challenges and setbacks. Those who maintain an optimistic outlook, even amidst uncertainty, are more likely to problem-solve and adapt effectively.
“In general, regular optimism/pessimism isn’t about thinking they wouldn’t get sick or they will be more likely to get sick, but about knowing the reality and still thinking that things will eventually work out,” added Oh. “This positive mindset helps people to problem-solve and cope. After all, if you think things would never work out, why would you even try?”
As the world transitions to a post-pandemic reality, the study highlights the importance of fostering optimism and flexible coping mechanisms to maintain and improve mental health.
“There has been evidence before the pandemic that optimistic people fare well in many situations,” Oh added. “Even though more research is needed to understand why, our study found that optimists fared better even during new difficulties. Therefore, developing optimism and learning how to flexibly cope can help maintain and improve mental health in diverse situations.”
This insightful research encourages us to consider how cultivating a positive mindset can pave the way for healthier habits and greater resilience, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.