Relationship Between Perceived Psychological Stress and Depression: Testing Moderating Effect of Dispositional Optimism

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how the personality characteristic known as dispositional optimism influences the psychological stress–depression relationship. Dispositional optimism can have significant influence on individual stress-coping mechanisms. Earlier studies have not found consistent results regarding main effects of optimism on stress appraisal and depressive moods. Previous studies have mostly used students as participants that may have led to such inconsistent findings. In this study, employees working in a private Indian university were interviewed using a survey method. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that there was a mild moderating impact of dispositional optimism on the stress–depression relationship.

KEYWORDS:

• depression
• dispositional optimism
• stress
• turnover intention
• well-being

Notes

N = 94.

^a Standardized regression coefficients are shown.

^b Gender was dummy coded where male = 1, female = 0.

†p < .10, *p < .05, ***p < .001.