the role of optimism in social network development, coping, and psychological adjustment during a life transition

1. �the role of optimism in social network development, coping, and psychological adjustment during a life transition� Susann Noatnick Stress & Coping Summer Semester 2006 DO TEST!!! How optimistic do you perceive yourself to be? Can you tell me about a situation where your decisions and or actions were clearly influenced by your optimism or pessimism (so that you were or became conscious about it)? COMPUTE SCORES!!! Yesterday: 66.6%, the day before yesterday: 70,3% of the optimism scale, so rather optimistic, but actually, i do not perceive myself as being very optimistic, i see bad things happen and sometimes i expect them, but on the other hand i also learned that whereever there were problems, all turned out quite well at the end... DOES IT MATCH YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS? WHAT DOES (N�T) THAT TELL US?DO TEST!!! How optimistic do you perceive yourself to be? Can you tell me about a situation where your decisions and or actions were clearly influenced by your optimism or pessimism (so that you were or became conscious about it)? COMPUTE SCORES!!! Yesterday: 66.6%, the day before yesterday: 70,3% of the optimism scale, so rather optimistic, but actually, i do not perceive myself as being very optimistic, i see bad things happen and sometimes i expect them, but on the other hand i also learned that whereever there were problems, all turned out quite well at the end... DOES IT MATCH YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS? WHAT DOES (N�T) THAT TELL US?

2. Optimism... Let�s test... ? How would YOU define optimism? Scheier & Carver (1985): �a generalized expectancy that good, as opposed to bad, outcomes will generally occur when confronted with problems across important life domains.� ?emotional and cognitive predisposition to feel and think that the good things in life will outweigh the bad ?think of/react emotionally to others, events, situations in positive and favorable ways ?general expectation for future outcomes to be positive, beneficial, good (Mehrabian, 1998) DEFINE OPTIMISM Is it (only) one dimension from pessimism to optimism? Is it really that stable? Are there domain-specific �optimisms�? Boman & Yates (????): �within the context of expectancy theory, optimism and pessimism are partially independent constructs rather than being opposite ends of a single continuum....hence, optimism and pessimism may play important, but separate roles in how people cope with potentially stressful situations.�DEFINE OPTIMISM Is it (only) one dimension from pessimism to optimism? Is it really that stable? Are there domain-specific �optimisms�? Boman & Yates (????): �within the context of expectancy theory, optimism and pessimism are partially independent constructs rather than being opposite ends of a single continuum....hence, optimism and pessimism may play important, but separate roles in how people cope with potentially stressful situations.�

3. Optimism... Previous results... Greater optimism has been found to be associated to better adjustment, in part through use of more adequate coping strategies. Optimists might also show better adjustment because they possess more extensive and supportive social networks (because they seem to be attractive to others) Are liked more, report longer friendships, have fewer negative social interactions, possess greater levels of social support, report greater increases in social support during stress Qualitative as well as structural aspects of friendship seem to matter Qualitative: influences psychological well-being by buffering stress Structural: main effect on well-being, less distress, greater pos. affect ? Optimists ability to attract greater social support might account for their superior adjustment to stressful life events But (after the last note): the direction of influences is not clear, also not if �size matters or not� ? examine transition into new social networksBut (after the last note): the direction of influences is not clear, also not if �size matters or not� ? examine transition into new social networks

4. Research questions... Testing the hypothesis that greater optimism is associated with the development of more extensive and supportive friendship networks during the first semester of college. Examine whether optimists display better psychological adjustment to the first semester of college (than pessimists) and assess the extent to which theses differences in adjustment are mediated by differences in the quality and quantity of their social network ties. Examine the extent to which coping and social support represent independent pathways through which optimism is linked to better psychological adjustment during a stressful life event. Social support and coping: could also hang togetherSocial support and coping: could also hang together

5. Sample & procedure... T1: first 3 weeks of semester Optimism (LOT) Self-esteem (Rosenberg�s Self-Esteem Scale) Perceived social support (ISEL) Friendship network size Depression (BDI) Perceived stress (PSS) T2: November/December Coping (Cope) Perceived social support (ISEL) Friendship network size Depression (BDI) Perceived stress (PSS) During a life transition...: also on the example of the psu-fsu-exchange...this is a kind of short-term life transition, too...and it is/is going to be stressful, so you better listen up... ? Self-esteem: assessed because it is quite similar to optimism, to differentiate influences of both All stressful weeks...first orientation, finding classrooms, books, strength and friends, later learning for the exams.... ISEL: interpersonal support evaluation list , perceived availability of social support Friendship network size: nr. of close friends, only 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more (close: a person who one feels close to and whom one could confide in and turn to for help) Cope: 15 conceptually distinct methods of coping (see p.107)During a life transition...: also on the example of the psu-fsu-exchange...this is a kind of short-term life transition, too...and it is/is going to be stressful, so you better listen up... ? Self-esteem: assessed because it is quite similar to optimism, to differentiate influences of both All stressful weeks...first orientation, finding classrooms, books, strength and friends, later learning for the exams.... ISEL: interpersonal support evaluation list , perceived availability of social support Friendship network size: nr. of close friends, only 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more (close: a person who one feels close to and whom one could confide in and turn to for help) Cope: 15 conceptually distinct methods of coping (see p.107)

6. Results... Do optimists develop more extensive and supportive friendship networks than do pessimists? Greater optimism associated with: Greater perception of support Greater friendship network size Greater increases in perceived social support across the semester from on-campus sources Not: greater increases in social network size acorss the semester Self-esteem is higher in more optimistic persons, but the associations between optimism and changes in social support were independent of differences in self-esteem In perceived support from off-campus sources, there was no difference between opt.s and pess.s....blood�s thicker than water..;)In perceived support from off-campus sources, there was no difference between opt.s and pess.s....blood�s thicker than water..;)

7. Results... Do social networks mediate the relations between greater optimism and better psychological adjustment? Greater optimism associated with smaller increases in stress and depression over the course of the semester Individuals reporting greater increases in social support also reported smaller increases in stress and depression Shifts in friendship network size were not associated with changes in depression and stress Mediator model: shifts in perceived social support accounted for: 71% of the variability in the relation between optimism and changes in depression 67% of the variability in the relation between optimism and stress ? optimists� ability to develop more supportive social relationships accounted at least in part for their better psychological adjustment So both are associated with better adjustmentSo both are associated with better adjustment

8. Results... Do social support and coping represent independent paths linking optimism to adjustment? Greater optimism was associated with: Greater use of active coping, planning, positive reinterpretation & growth (PRG) Less use of denial, behavioral disengagement Only PRG was associated with smaller increases in depressive symptoms and stress ? mediator of the relation between optimism and adjustment Greater increases in social support associated with higher use of PRG Social support as well as PRG influence changes in stress, but only PRG influences changes in depression

9. Discussion... Associations between optimism and increased social support are a reflection of higher quality friendships, not more extensive friendship networks, but optimists could have had more extensive networks before that did not increase that much...but is it really size that matters? Optimists displayed smaller increases in stress and depression Social support represents a means through which optimism is linked with better adjustment to stressful life events (social support as mediator) Greater social support: perception of circumstances as less threatening, direct effect on used coping strategies Use of PRG partially mediated the relation between optimism and better adjustment ? ability to remain positive and extract benefit from stressful life circumstances (�having a positive outlook�) is an important factor in maintaining psychological and physical health But direction of influences among use of PRG, development of social support and adjustment is not completely clear by design

10. Discussion... Perceived social support as personality trait? Greater optimism related to the stable portion of perceived social support, but it was the changes in perceived social support that were critical in explaining the link between greater optimism and superior adjustment to college Contribution of alternative personality characteristics Relations found were independent of individual differences in self-esteem Extraversion could also have played a role, but was not assessed

11. Further discussion... Having a benevolent world view was found to be related to less health behaviors and probably a stronger reaction to negative, potentially stressful events. So how does this fit in together? The coping strategies optimists used don�t seem to correlate with their increased social support - or do they? Is high optimism always good? Do optimists and pessimists face the same amount and kind of stressors? Why didn�t optimists use more �seeking social support-instrumental/emotional� (has the smallest correlations)...would does not have been an expectation? If they have more social support, would it be more in the direction of distraction (although less behavioral disengagement and denial found)? And isn�t that a sign for short-term-effective, but long-term ineffective coping? Optimism always good? Toooooo much optimism: no adequate perception of risk, straining (other�s people�s nerves..?) Same amount/kind of stressors? ? Matter of perception and way of looking onto problems...the smallest problem could be a big issue in an pessimist�s eyes and therefore create higher perceived stress, which could be a reason to find less perceived stress in optimists... Might face the same amount of problems, but cope with them differently...Why didn�t optimists use more �seeking social support-instrumental/emotional� (has the smallest correlations)...would does not have been an expectation? If they have more social support, would it be more in the direction of distraction (although less behavioral disengagement and denial found)? And isn�t that a sign for short-term-effective, but long-term ineffective coping? Optimism always good? Toooooo much optimism: no adequate perception of risk, straining (other�s people�s nerves..?) Same amount/kind of stressors? ? Matter of perception and way of looking onto problems...the smallest problem could be a big issue in an pessimist�s eyes and therefore create higher perceived stress, which could be a reason to find less perceived stress in optimists... Might face the same amount of problems, but cope with them differently...

12. Take-home optimism Max More�s Dynamic Optimism Positive interpretation of experience and positive influencing of outcomes

13. THANK YOU...!!! ? Do you have any additional questions?