Untangling the role of optimism, pessimism and coping influences on student mood, motivation and satisfaction

Figures & data

Figure 1. The curvilinear relationship between stress and performance (Gibbons, 2008).

Table

Hassle		Uplift
0–5	Item	0–5
	The comprehensibility of the material taught on the course.

Table 1. Multiple regression with anxiety.

	Unstandardized Coefficients		Standardized Coefficients
Model	B	Std. Error	β
(Constant)	28.53	3.28
Tutor support Hassle	.27	.12	.12**
Context control	−.43	.15	−.20***
Extraversion	.26	.16	.10*
Agreeableness	−.37	.18	−.12**
Neuroticism	.78	.2 0	.29****
Defensive pessimism	−.27	.05	−.37****

*p < .10, **p < .05, ***p < .01, ****p < .001.

Table 2. Multiple regression with depression.

	Unstandardized Coefficients		Standardized Coefficients
	B	Std. Error	Beta
(Constant)	26.035	1.183	−.35**
Optimism	−.294	.064	−.35**
Defensive pessimism	−.294	.064

*p<.05, **p<.001.

Table 3. Unmediated and mediated values between ‘hassle’ ratings of family and friends support and anxiety.

	β value	p value
For context control as the mediator
Unmediated path	.223	.005
Mediated path	.105	.133
For neuroticism as the mediator
Unmediated path	.211	.005
Mediated path	.119	.068

Table 4. Individual differences descriptive statistics for those high in defensive pessimism and optimism.

	Groups	Mean	Std. Deviation
Self-efficacy	Defensive pessimism	29.60	6.70
	Optimism	36.15	6.17
Context control	Defensive pessimism	9.50	2.17
	Optimism	11.26	1.85
Extraversion	Defensive pessimism	5.40	1.26
	Optimism	6.22	1.95
Agreeableness	Defensive pessimism	7.50	2.22
	Optimism	7.67	2.04
Conscientiousness	Defensive pessimism	6.00	1.76
	Optimism	7.56	1.37
Neuroticism	Defensive pessimism	7.20	1.55
	Optimism	6.07	2.04
Openness	Defensive pessimism	4.20	1.03
	Optimism	4.41	.89

Table 5. Individual differences between those high in optimism against those high in defensive pessimism.

	t	df		Cohen’s d
			p value
Self-efficacy	2.80	35	.008	1.04
Context control	2.45	35	.019	.91
Extraversion	1.24	35	.225	.46
Agreeableness	.216	35	.830	.08
Conscientiousness	2.84	35	.007	1.05
Neuroticism	1.58	35	.123	.59
Openness	.60	35	.550	.22

Figure 2. Context control as a mediator between ‘family and friends’ support rated as a hassle and anxiety.

Figure 3. Neuroticism as a mediator between ‘family and friends’ support rated as a hassle and anxiety.

Gibbons, C. (2008). Measuring stress and eustress in nursing students (Doctoral dissertation, Queen’s University Belfast).

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