Robinson-Whelen S, Kim C, MacCallum R C, Kiecolt-Glaser J K
Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1997 Dec;73(6):1345-53. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.73.6.1345.
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 negatively correlated among individuals facing a profound life challenge (i.e., caregiving), they were only weakly correlated among noncaregivers. Caregivers also expressed less optimism than noncaregivers and showed a trend toward greater pessimism, suggesting that life stress may affect these dispositions. Pessimism, not optimism, uniquely predicted 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 better determine whether the beneficial effects of optimism result from thinking optimistically, avoiding pessimistic thinking, or a combination of the two.
验证性因素分析表明，生活取向测试（LOT）在中年人和老年人中由单独的乐观和悲观因素组成。尽管在面临重大生活挑战（即照顾他人）的个体中，这两个因素呈显著负相关，但在非照顾者中它们的相关性较弱。照顾者也比非照顾者表现出更少的乐观情绪，并且有更悲观的趋势，这表明生活压力可能会影响这些性格倾向。是悲观而非乐观独特地预测了随后的心理和身体健康；然而，乐观和悲观对压力大的样本和无压力的样本具有同样的预测性。通过分别探究乐观和悲观，研究人员可能会更好地确定乐观的有益效果是源于乐观思考、避免悲观思考，还是两者的结合。
