Reevaluating the link between dispositional optimism and positive functioning using a temporally expanded perspective

Abstract

Dispositional optimism is typically defined in terms of generalized positive expectancies for personal future life outcomes. Yet, multiple lines of inquiry have demonstrated fundamental interconnections among all three temporal perspectives (past, present, and future). Hence, in the present work, we examine the commonality underlying dispositional optimism and individuals’ evaluations of their past, present, and anticipated future lives. Results (n = 459; 80% female; M age = 19.68) suggest that dispositional optimism loads strongly on an underlying (latent) tendency to evaluate one’s life positively across temporal perspectives. This latent tendency was significantly associated with each Big Five personality dimension; independent of this latent tendency dispositional optimism was associated only with neuroticism. Controlling for personality dimensions, the latent tendency was predictive of positive functioning (mental health, coping, physical health, and social resources); in contrast, independent of this latent tendency dispositional optimism had no significant residual associations with any of the various functioning indicators.

Keywords:

• dispositional optimism
• temporal perspective
• positive functioning

Notes

1. The lack of residual associations between dispositional optimism and the positive functioning indicators does not appear to be due to the potential overlap between the measures of dispositional optimism and future life satisfaction. That is, even when the future life satisfaction score was removed from the model (such that the latent tendency was indicated by scores for past and present life satisfaction plus dispositional optimism), results were consistent with those reported in the main text. In particular, all residual correlations between dispositional optimism and the positive functioning indicators were non-significant.