Optimism Can Ward Off Stress

Optimists tend to develop better coping skills and a more supportive social network than those with a darker outlook, which may shelter them from stress and depression. The role that our personality plays in generating responses from others can go a long ways towards our own mental well-being.

Previous research has shown that those who have a sunny outlook about the future tend to have better mental health than those who are pessimistic. One possible reason, the researchers theorize, is that optimists are more likely to develop strong ties with others, which has been shown to be one factor in being better able to handle stress.

Because optimistic people may be more skilled interpersonally and are better to be around, they may develop these social networks more easily.

The study found two potential reasons for the optimists' lower levels of stress: strong friendships and superior coping skills. For example, optimists were more likely to report feeling that they had someone who would help them move or loan them a car. Optimists were developing more supportive networks than people who were more pessimistic.

Optimists were no more likely than pessimists to develop an even larger group of friends over time, but their friendships seemed to be of a deeper quality. There was no greater increase in the number of friendships, but you could argue they were potentially stronger.

Optimists also seem to function better than pessimists because they are more likely to rely on an effective coping skill called positive reinterpretation and growth, rather than ineffective coping methods such as denial or disengagement.

Positive reinterpretation is looking at a bad situation and looking for the silver lining, or interpreting the setback as a challenge. Optimists cope differently than pessimists.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology January 2002;82:102-111