Optimism and health-relevant cognitions after a myocardial infarction.

The relationship between dispositional optimism (LOT) and health-relevant cognitions after a myocardial infarction was examined with 158 patients (mean age = 52.7 +/- 8.1 yr.). Patients above the median on optimism (i.e., optimists) scored significantly lower on perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and experienced fear than did pessimists. However, no difference on perceived self-efficacy was reported between optimists and pessimists. It is concluded that these results provide further evidence for the LOT's construct validity.