Journal
PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH
Volume 33, Issue 6, Pages 783-799Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1408807
Keywords
optimism; pessimism; cortisol awakening response; ageing; past life review
Funding
- Spanish Education and Science Ministry [PSI2010/21343, PSI2013/46889, FPU AP2009-4713, FPU AP2010-1830, FPU12/04597]
- Generalitat Valenciana [ACOMP/2015/0227, PROMETEOII2015-020, ISIC/2013/001]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective: Investigate the relationship between optimism and pessimism and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and past life review in healthy older people.Design: 76 older volunteers summarised their lives, highlighting the most important events, impressions and experiences. Cortisol saliva samples were collected on two consecutive weekdays. High and low optimism and pessimism groups were computed by mean split.Main Outcome Measures: Percentages of positive (PE) and negative events (NE) and positive (PCE) and negative cognitions and emotions (NCE) were obtained. Optimism and pessimism were measured with the Life Orientation Test Revised. The areas under the curve with respect to the ground and with respect to the increase were computed, with the latter understood as the CAR.Results: The high pessimism group reported more NE and NCE and less PE and PCE (p's<0.041). No significant differences in CAR were found between high and low optimism and pessimism groups after removing suspected non-adherent participants (p's>0.116). Higher CAR was related to lower PCE, but higher NCE (both p<0.008).Conclusion: Pessimism seems to increase the focus on negative aspects of the past, which may lead to a worse perception of life in ageing, whereas optimism contributes to a healthier CAR.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available