Rachel A Millstein1, Wei-Jean Chung2, Bettina B Hoeppner2, Julia K Boehm3, Sean R Legler2, Carol A Mastromauro4, Jeff C Huffman2. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ramillstein@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Optimism, or positive expectations about the future, is associated with better health. It is commonly assessed as a trait, but it may change over time and circumstance. Accordingly, we developed a measure of state optimism. METHODS: An initial 29-item pool was generated based on literature reviews and expert consultations. It was administered to three samples: sample 1 was a general healthy population (n = 136), sample 2 was people with cardiac disease (n = 96), and sample 3 was persons recovering from problematic substance use (n = 265). Exploratory factor analysis and item-level descriptive statistics were used to select items to form a unidimensional State Optimism Measure (SOM). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test fit. RESULTS: The selected seven SOM items demonstrated acceptable to high factor loadings on a single dominant factor (loadings: 0.64-0.93). There was high internal reliability across samples (Cronbach's alphas: 0.92-0.96), and strong convergent validity correlations in hypothesized directions. The SOM's correlations with other optimism measures indicate preliminary construct validity. CFA statistics indicated acceptable fit of the SOM model. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a psychometrically-sound measure of state optimism that can be used in various settings. Predictive and criterion validity will be tested in future studies.
BACKGROUND: Optimism, or positive expectations about the future, is associated with better health. It is commonly assessed as a trait, but it may change over time and circumstance. Accordingly, we developed a measure of state optimism. METHODS: An initial 29-item pool was generated based on literature reviews and expert consultations. It was administered to three samples: sample 1 was a general healthy population (n = 136), sample 2 was people with cardiac disease (n = 96), and sample 3 was persons recovering from problematic substance use (n = 265). Exploratory factor analysis and item-level descriptive statistics were used to select items to form a unidimensional State Optimism Measure (SOM). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test fit. RESULTS: The selected seven SOM items demonstrated acceptable to high factor loadings on a single dominant factor (loadings: 0.64-0.93). There was high internal reliability across samples (Cronbach's alphas: 0.92-0.96), and strong convergent validity correlations in hypothesized directions. The SOM's correlations with other optimism measures indicate preliminary construct validity. CFA statistics indicated acceptable fit of the SOM model. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a psychometrically-sound measure of state optimism that can be used in various settings. Predictive and criterion validity will be tested in future studies.
Authors: Rachel A Millstein; Christopher M Celano; Eleanor E Beale; Scott R Beach; Laura Suarez; Arianna M Belcher; James L Januzzi; Jeff C Huffman Journal: Gen Hosp Psychiatry Date: 2016-08-30 Impact factor: 3.238
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