Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): a reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test
01 Dec 1994-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (American Psychological Association)-Vol. 67, Iss: 6, pp 1063-1078
TL;DR: Examination of the scale on somewhat different grounds, however, does suggest that future applications can benefit from its revision, and a minor modification to the Life Orientation Test is described, along with data bearing on the revised scale's psychometric properties.
Abstract: Research on dispositional optimism as assessed by the Life Orientation Test (Scheier & Carver, 1985) has been challenged on the grounds that effects attributed to optimism are indistinguishable from those of unmeasured third variables, most notably, neuroticism. Data from 4,309 subjects show that associations between optimism and both depression and aspects of coping remain significant even when the effects of neuroticism, as well as the effects of trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem, are statistically controlled. Thus, the Life Orientation Test does appear to possess adequate predictive and discriminant validity. Examination of the scale on somewhat different grounds, however, does suggest that future applications can benefit from its revision. Thus, we also describe a minor modification to the Life Orientation Test, along with data bearing on the revised scale's psychometric properties.
Citations
More filters
Book•
01 Aug 2007
TL;DR: In this fully revised edition of her bestselling text, Julie Pallant guides you through the entire research process, helping you choose the right data analysis technique for your project.
Abstract: Praise for previous editions: 'This book really is a life saver! If the mere thought of statistics gives you a headache, then this is the book for you' - Statistics student, UK. 'I just wanted to say how much I value Julie Pallant's "SPSS Survival Manual". It's quite the best text in SPSS I've encountered and I recommend it to anyone who's listening!' -- Professor Carolyn Hicks, Birmingham University, UK. 'one of the most useful functional pieces of instruction I have seen. So, gold star and thanks' - Instructional designer, USA. 'There are several SPSS manuals published and this one really does 'do what it says on the tin' ...Whether you are a beginner doing your BSc or struggling with your PhD research (or beyond!), I wholeheartedly recommend this book' - "British Journal of Occupational Therapy", UK.Praise for the new edition: 'An excellent introduction to using SPSS for data analysis ...It provides a self-contained resource itself, with more than simply (detailed and clear) step-by-step descriptions of statistical procedures in SPSS. There is also a wealth of tips and advice, and for each statistical technique a brief, but consistently reliable, explanation is provided' - Associate Professor George Dunbar, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, UK. In this fully revised edition of her bestselling text, Julie Pallant guides you through the entire research process, helping you choose the right data analysis technique for your project. From the formulation of research questions, to the design of the study and analysis of data, to reporting the results, Julie discusses basic and advanced statistical techniques.She outlines each technique clearly, with step-by-step procedures for performing the analysis, a detailed guide to interpreting SPSS output and an example of how to present the results in a report. For both beginners and experienced SPSS users in psychology, sociology, health sciences, medicine, education, business and related disciplines, the "SPSS Survival Manual" is an essential guide. Illustrated with screen grabs, examples of output and tips, it is supported by a website with sample data and guidelines on report writing. In this third edition all chapters have been updated to accommodate changes to SPSS procedures, screens and output in version 15. A new flowchart is included for SPSS procedures, and factor analysis procedures have been streamlined. It also includes more examples and material on syntax. Additional data files are available on the book's supporting website.
6,161 citations
Book•
[...]
01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: The SPSS Survival Manual throws a lifeline to students and researchers grappling with this data analysis software, in this thoroughly revised edition of her.
Abstract: Click on the arrow button to move the variable name into Chapter 4 Creating a data file and entering data 39 Step 2: Enter the data Spss survival. The SPSS Survival Manual throws a lifeline to students and researchers grappling with this data analysis software.In this thoroughly revised edition of her. Download PDF SPSS Survival Manual A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS. SPSS SURVIVAL MANUAL. Are you come upon Spss Survival Manual? Great! We have the file you need: spss survival manual. The spss survival manual. To cite this article: Yeung, Polly. SPSS survival manual. A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (5th ed) (Book Review) (online). Aotearoa New.
5,082 citations
TL;DR: The brief resilience scale (BRS) is a reliable means of assessing resilience as the ability to bounce back or recover from stress and may provide unique and important information about people coping with health-related stressors.
Abstract: Background: While resilience has been defined as resistance to illness, adaptation, and thriving, the ability to bounce back or recover from stress is closest to its original meaning. Previous resilience measures assess resources that may promote resilience rather than recovery, resistance, adaptation, or thriving. Purpose: To test a new brief resilience scale. Method: The brief resilience scale (BRS) was created to assess the ability to bounce back or recover from stress. Its psychometric characteristics were examined in four samples, including two student samples and samples with cardiac and chronic pain patients. Results: The BRS was reliable and measured as a unitary construct. It was predictably related to personal characteristics, social relations, coping, and health in all samples. It was negatively related to anxiety, depression, negative affect, and physical symptoms when other resilience measures and optimism, social support, and Type D personality (high negative affect and high social inhibition) were controlled. There were large differences in BRS scores between cardiac patients with and without Type D and women with and without fibromyalgia. Conclusion: The BRS is a reliable means of assessing resilience as the ability to bounce back or recover from stress and may provide unique and important information about people coping with health-related stressors.
3,285 citations
TL;DR: The Flourishing Scale as mentioned in this paper is a summary measure of the respondent's self-perceived success in important areas such as relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism.
Abstract: Measures of well-being were created to assess psychological flourishing and feelings—positive feelings, negative feelings, and the difference between the two. The scales were evaluated in a sample of 689 college students from six locations. The Flourishing Scale is a brief 8-item summary measure of the respondent’s self-perceived success in important areas such as relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. The scale provides a single psychological well-being score. The measure has good psychometric properties, and is strongly associated with other psychological well-being scales. The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience produces a score for positive feelings (6 items), a score for negative feelings (6 items), and the two can be combined to create a balance score. This 12-item brief scale has a number of desirable features compared to earlier measures of positive and negative emotions. In particular, the scale assesses with a few items a broad range of negative and positive experiences and feelings, not just those of a certain type, and is based on the amount of time the feelings were experienced during the past 4 weeks. The scale converges well with measures of emotions and affective well-being.
2,860 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors defined hope as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways, and described the adult and child hope scales that are derived from hope theory.
Abstract: Hope is defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways. The adult and child hope scales that are derived from hope theory are described. Hope theory is compared to theories of learned optimism, optimism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Higher hope consistently is related to better outcomes in academics, athletics, physical health, psychological adjustment, and psychotherapy. Processes that lessen hope in children and adults are reviewed. Using the hope theory definition, no evidence is found for "false" hope. Future research is encouraged in regard to accurately enhancing hope in medical feedback and helping people to pursue those goals for which they are best suited.
2,723 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: The difficulties inherent in obtaining consistent and adequate diagnoses for the purposes of research and therapy have been pointed out and a wide variety of psychiatric rating scales have been developed.
Abstract: The difficulties inherent in obtaining consistent and adequate diagnoses for the purposes of research and therapy have been pointed out by a number of authors. Pasamanick12in a recent article viewed the low interclinician agreement on diagnosis as an indictment of the present state of psychiatry and called for "the development of objective, measurable and verifiable criteria of classification based not on personal or parochial considerations, but on behavioral and other objectively measurable manifestations." Attempts by other investigators to subject clinical observations and judgments to objective measurement have resulted in a wide variety of psychiatric rating scales.4,15These have been well summarized in a review article by Lorr11on "Rating Scales and Check Lists for the Evaluation of Psychopathology." In the area of psychological testing, a variety of paper-and-pencil tests have been devised for the purpose of measuring specific
35,176 citations
01 Jan 1970
TL;DR: The STAI as mentioned in this paper is an indicator of two types of anxiety, the state and trait anxiety, and measure the severity of the overall anxiety level, which is appropriate for those who have at least a sixth grade reading level.
Abstract: The STAI serves as an indicator of two types of anxiety, the state and trait anxiety, and measure the severity of the overall anxiety level.The STAI, which is appropriate for those who have at least a sixth grade reading level, contains four-point Likert items. The instrument is divided into two sections, each having twenty questions. Approximately 15 minutes are required for adults to complete the both STAI. The number on the scale is positively correlated to the anxiety related to in the question.
24,997 citations
"Distinguishing optimism from neurot..." refers methods in this paper
...The trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1974) was used to measure trait anxiety....
[...]
Book•
28 Apr 1989
TL;DR: The General Model, Part I: Latent Variable and Measurement Models Combined, Part II: Extensions, Part III: Extensions and Part IV: Confirmatory Factor Analysis as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Model Notation, Covariances, and Path Analysis. Causality and Causal Models. Structural Equation Models with Observed Variables. The Consequences of Measurement Error. Measurement Models: The Relation Between Latent and Observed Variables. Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The General Model, Part I: Latent Variable and Measurement Models Combined. The General Model, Part II: Extensions. Appendices. Distribution Theory. References. Index.
19,019 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a general null model based on modified independence among variables is proposed to provide an additional reference point for the statistical and scientific evaluation of covariance structure models, and the importance of supplementing statistical evaluation with incremental fit indices associated with the comparison of hierarchical models.
Abstract: Factor analysis, path analysis, structural equation modeling, and related multivariate statistical methods are based on maximum likelihood or generalized least squares estimation developed for covariance structure models. Large-sample theory provides a chi-square goodness-of-fit test for comparing a model against a general alternative model based on correlated variables. This model comparison is insufficient for model evaluation: In large samples virtually any model tends to be rejected as inadequate, and in small samples various competing models, if evaluated, might be equally acceptable. A general null model based on modified independence among variables is proposed to provide an additional reference point for the statistical and scientific evaluation of covariance structure models. Use of the null model in the context of a procedure that sequentially evaluates the statistical necessity of various sets of parameters places statistical methods in covariance structure analysis into a more complete framework. The concepts of ideal models and pseudo chi-square tests are introduced, and their roles in hypothesis testing are developed. The importance of supplementing statistical evaluation with incremental fit indices associated with the comparison of hierarchical models is also emphasized. Normed and nonnormed fit indices are developed and illustrated.
16,420 citations