Optimism–Pessimism and Stress Appraisal: Testing a Cognitive Interactive Model of Psychological Adjustment in Adults

Abstract

An interactive model of optimism–pessimism and stress was examined in predicting psychological symptoms and life satisfaction in a group of younger ( n = 340; M = 20.4 years) and a group of older adults ( n = 316; M = 46.6 years). For each group, results of conducting a series of regression analyses indicated that optimism–pessimism and stress appraisal accounted for a significant amount of the variance in each of the adjustment measures. Moreover, a significant optimism–pessimism × Stress Appraisal interaction was found in predicting each of the outcomes for both younger and older adults, even after controlling for the main effects of optimism–pessimism and stress appraisal. However, no significant interaction was found in predicting life satisfaction in older adults. For both younger and older adults, post hoc analyses of the significant interactions indicated a consistent pattern in which pessimism exacerbated the association between appraised stress and poor psychological adjustment. Potential implications of the present findings for future research are discussed.