BACKGROUND: Optimism and pessimism are positive and negative expectations linked with well-being in adults. Research on the importance of optimism and pessimism in children is limited by the lack of a developmentally appropriate measure of children's expectations. METHOD: Based upon the Life Orientation Test-Revised (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), the Youth Life Orientation Test (YLOT) is a sixteen-item self-report measure of children's optimism and pessimism. RESULTS: Reliability and validity of the YLOT was found with 204 3rd-6th graders. Optimism also predicted fewer child-reported depressive symptoms and parent-reported behavior problems assessed three months later. Pessimism predicted more child-reported anxiety symptoms and parent-reported social and academic deficits.
BACKGROUND: Optimism and pessimism are positive and negative expectations linked with well-being in adults. Research on the importance of optimism and pessimism in children is limited by the lack of a developmentally appropriate measure of children's expectations. METHOD: Based upon the Life Orientation Test-Revised (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), the Youth Life Orientation Test (YLOT) is a sixteen-item self-report measure of children's optimism and pessimism. RESULTS: Reliability and validity of the YLOT was found with 204 3rd-6th graders. Optimism also predicted fewer child-reported depressive symptoms and parent-reported behavior problems assessed three months later. Pessimism predicted more child-reported anxiety symptoms and parent-reported social and academic deficits.
Authors: Junenette L Peters; Laura D Kubzansky; Ai Ikeda; Avron Spiro; Robert O Wright; Marc G Weisskopf; Daniel Kim; David Sparrow; Linda H Nie; Howard Hu; Joel Schwartz Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2011-11-09 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Christopher B Forrest; Katherine B Bevans; Ania Filus; Janine Devine; Brandon D Becker; Adam C Carle; Rachel E Teneralli; JeanHee Moon; Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2019-10-01
Authors: Tiah L Dowell; Allison M Waters; Wayne Usher; Lara J Farrell; Caroline L Donovan; Kathryn L Modecki; Melanie J Zimmer-Gembeck; Mike Castle; James Hinchey Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2021-02
Authors: Vida L Tyc; James L Klosky; Shelly Lensing; Leslee Throckmorton-Belzer; Shesh N Rai Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2009-10-29 Impact factor: 4.442