Do you view the glass as half empty or half full? It’s likely that at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many felt a sense of pessimism due to social isolation, health concerns, and economic uncertainty.
A team of researchers from Syracuse University and Michigan State University recently studied how personal characteristics affect people’s ability to cope with prolonged stressors such as the pandemic. The research was led by Jeewon Oh, an assistant professor in psychology at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. The study focused on optimism versus pessimism and its impact on well-being.
Data for this investigation came from the Health and Retirement Study, a comprehensive national panel study that tracks a representative sample of Americans aged 50 and older (Sonnega et al., 2014). In 2016, participants answered questions assessing their levels of optimism—such as “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best” and pessimism like “I hardly ever expect things to go my way.” During the early stages of COVID-19 (March to May 2020), respondents reported on health-related behaviors that either increased or reduced the risk of transmission, including mask-wearing frequency, travel habits, and staying at home.
The researchers found that greater optimism promotes resilience and well-being in stressful situations such as a pandemic. Additionally, lower levels of pessimism are associated with safer health behaviors during challenging times. Their findings were published in Journal of Research in Personality.
In the following Q&A session, Professor Jeewon Oh shares key insights from their research:
**What was the motivation for this study?**
(JO): The pandemic introduced many changes. We wanted to understand personality traits that help people cope with enduring and uncontrollable stressors like the pandemic. Optimism is a trait we focused on because it motivates action.
**What were the benefits for those who were more optimistic?**
(JO): Both optimism and pessimism have independent associations with psychological well-being. So, people who are more optimistic and less pessimistic worried less, felt less stressed and lonely, and showed higher resilience. This partly happened because these individuals engaged in more physical activity and perceived greater social support.
**How does optimism or pessimism influence the way people approach challenges?**
(JO): Regularly thinking optimistically/pessimistic isn’t about predicting whether you won’t get sick, but knowing that things will eventually work out. This positive mindset helps people problem-solve and cope.
**Is there a way to boost one’s optimism during anxious times like the pandemic?**
(JO): It can be easier to change behaviors instead of changing your thinking or boosting your optimism directly. So, focusing on behavior changes such as exercising more at home helps maintain well-being.
**What does this study reveal about health and psychological well-being in post-pandemic life?**
(JO): The findings suggest that developing optimism and learning flexible coping mechanisms can help maintain and improve mental health across various situations, including the future.
