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Nature Human Behaviour Nov 2022Despite over 50 years of messaging about the reality of human-caused climate change, substantial portions of the population remain sceptical. Furthermore, many... (Review)
Review
Despite over 50 years of messaging about the reality of human-caused climate change, substantial portions of the population remain sceptical. Furthermore, many sceptics remain unmoved by standard science communication strategies, such as myth busting and evidence building. To understand this, we examine psychological and structural reasons why climate change misinformation is prevalent. First, we review research on motivated reasoning: how interpretations of climate science are shaped by vested interests and ideologies. Second, we examine climate scepticism as a form of political followership. Third, we examine infrastructures of disinformation: the funding, lobbying and political operatives that lend climate scepticism its power. Guiding this Review are two principles: (1) to understand scepticism, one must account for the interplay between individual psychologies and structural forces; and (2) global data are required to understand this global problem. In the spirit of optimism, we finish by describing six strategies for reducing the destructive influence of climate scepticism.
Topics: Humans; Climate Change; Communication; Disinformation; Optimism; Problem Solving
PubMed: 36385174
DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01463-y -
Cell Oct 2020The pandemic has impacted every scientist differently. Many negative impacts are frequently discussed. Here we highlight unexpected positives that we have found and hope...
The pandemic has impacted every scientist differently. Many negative impacts are frequently discussed. Here we highlight unexpected positives that we have found and hope will persist: improved access to experts; deeper and broader human engagement among colleagues, collaborators, and competitors; and significant democratization of research.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Optimism; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33007260
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.027 -
The Journal of Medical Humanities Mar 2022Tragedy is a founding theme in disability studies. Critical disability studies have, since their inception, argued that understandings of disability as tragedy obscure...
Tragedy is a founding theme in disability studies. Critical disability studies have, since their inception, argued that understandings of disability as tragedy obscure the political dimensions of disability and are a barrier facing disabled persons in society. In this paper, we propose an affirmative understanding of tragedy, employing the philosophical works of Nietzsche, Spinoza and Hasana Sharp. Tragedy is not, we argue, something to be opposed by disability politics; we can affirm life within it. To make our case, we look to an ongoing ethnography of two Canadian children's rehabilitation clinics. Looking to the clinical experience of Canadian boys and young men diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and those of their families, we show how this affirmative understanding of tragedy allows us to pursue the themes of disability politics within tragedy. Contrary to an optimism that would eschew tragedy at all costs or a pessimistic approach that declines to act in the face of tragic circumstance, we argue that a revised understanding of tragedy allows us to situate the occasionally-tragic clinical experience of disability in a philosophy of life. Both disability and tragedy point us to the shared entanglements that make life what it is.
Topics: Canada; Child; Disabled Persons; Humans; Male; Optimism; Pessimism; Philosophy
PubMed: 31984453
DOI: 10.1007/s10912-020-09612-y -
Journal of Personality Aug 2022Optimism is linked to varied advantageous outcomes, ranging from improved health to better relationships, while pessimism is linked to reduced well-being. Relatively...
OBJECTIVES
Optimism is linked to varied advantageous outcomes, ranging from improved health to better relationships, while pessimism is linked to reduced well-being. Relatively little is known about how optimism and pessimism may work together to shape the perception of support within marital relationships, and whether perceived support can affect couple-members' optimism and pessimism.
METHOD
We used three waves of a nationally representative sample of older couples (N = 1681 couples), spanning a period of eight years. Partners reported perceived support, optimism, and pessimism in each wave. We used a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to test within- and between-person effects.
RESULTS
At the within-person level, husbands', but not wife's, future expectations were associated with partners' perceived marital support; increases in husbands' pessimism on a given wave were related to decreases in husbands' perceived marital support at the next wave, and vice versa (i.e., actor effect). Within the same wave, increases in husbands' pessimism were associated with wives' decreased perceived marital support. At the between-person level, both partners' optimism and pessimism were associated with marital support.
DISCUSSION
Findings suggest that changes in husbands' levels of pessimism propel marital support experiences of both partners. At the methodological level, results highlight the importance of examining interpersonal processes at both the within- and between-levels of analyses, as they may yield divergent patterns.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Marriage; Optimism; Pessimism; Spouses
PubMed: 34773263
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12688 -
Journal of Personality Apr 2021The current exploratory study sought to examine dispositional optimism, or the general expectation for positive outcomes, around the world.
OBJECTIVE
The current exploratory study sought to examine dispositional optimism, or the general expectation for positive outcomes, around the world.
METHOD
Dispositional optimism and possible correlates were assessed across 61 countries (N = 15,185; mean age = 21.92; 77% female). Mean-level differences in optimism were computed along with their relationships with individual and country-level variables.
RESULTS
Worldwide, mean optimism levels were above the midpoint of the scale. Perhaps surprisingly, country-level optimism was negatively related to gross domestic product per capita, population density, and democratic norms and positively related to income inequality and perceived corruption. However, country-level optimism was positively related to projected economic improvement. Individual-level optimism was positively related to individual well-being within every country, although this relationship was less strong in countries with challenging economic and social circumstances.
CONCLUSIONS
While individuals around the world are generally optimistic, societal characteristics appear to affect the degree to which their optimism is associated with psychological well-being, sometimes in seemingly anomalous ways.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Optimism; Personality; Young Adult
PubMed: 32770554
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12582 -
Addictive Behaviors Apr 2020Adolescents in the criminal justice system, called justice-involved children (JIC), are particularly vulnerable in the modern opioid misuse (OM) epidemic. After release,...
AIM
Adolescents in the criminal justice system, called justice-involved children (JIC), are particularly vulnerable in the modern opioid misuse (OM) epidemic. After release, relapse and overdose occur at higher rates than the general population. The current study assesses optimism and likelihood of P30D consumption of non-prescription or illicit opioids among JIC.
METHODS
The study examines a sample of 79,960 JIC from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Multivariate logistic regression was employed, controlling for gender, race, family income, age, history of mental problems, history of depression, and county of residence.
RESULTS
JIC who reported very low optimism on the final screen had over 8 times the odds of meeting criteria for P30D OM compared to those with high optimism while adjusting for covariates.
CONCLUSIONS
Further research is needed to understand the potential for optimism to serve as a protective factor. Optimism can be developed, and therefore can possibly be incorporated to design novel interventions or integrated into empirically validated treatment programs to precipitate uptake.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Florida; Humans; Juvenile Delinquency; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Optimism; Protective Factors
PubMed: 31838447
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106226 -
Journal of Aging and Health 2022Examine the association between personality measures and perceived mental fatigability.
OBJECTIVE
Examine the association between personality measures and perceived mental fatigability.
METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional analysis in =1670 men, age 84.3±4.1 years. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the covariate adjusted association between personality measures (conscientiousness, optimism, goal reengagement, and goal disengagement) and perceived mental fatigability (measured with the validated 10-item Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, PFS).
RESULTS
One standard deviation lower conscientiousness (β=-0.91, <.0001) and optimism (β=-0.63, <.0001), and higher goal reengagement (β=0.51, =.01) scores were independently associated with higher PFS Mental scores adjusted for age, cognitive function, self-reported health status, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, physical activity, and goal disengagement.
DISCUSSION
Lower conscientiousness, optimism, and higher goal reengagement were linked with more severe perceived mental fatigability in older men. Personality traits may potentially contribute to early risk assessment for fatigability in later life. Future work should be longitudinal in nature and include personality assessments to confirm the temporality of the relationships observed.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Health Status; Humans; Male; Optimism; Personality
PubMed: 34821521
DOI: 10.1177/08982643211055032 -
Emotion (Washington, D.C.) Oct 2021Gratitude and optimism are positive psychological dispositions associated with beneficial outcomes. To examine their associations with physiological and psychological...
Gratitude and optimism are positive psychological dispositions associated with beneficial outcomes. To examine their associations with physiological and psychological experiences in daily life, we examined data from an Ecological Momentary Assessment study ( = 4,825), including blood pressure, heart rate, and reports of stress, health behaviors, and thoughts. Trait gratitude and trait optimism both predicted lower heart rate and blood pressure, better sleep quality, more exercise, less stress, more positive expectations and reflections, and greater feelings of appreciation toward others. However, gratitude and optimism were not completely overlapping constructs: Gratitude was a stronger predictor of felt appreciation toward others and pleasantness when reflecting on the best part of the day, whereas optimism was a stronger predictor of sleep quality, lower stress, and lower unpleasantness when reflecting on the worst part of the day. These associations reveal both similar and differential influences of positive dispositions on psychological and physiological outcomes that provide insight into health consequences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Ecological Momentary Assessment; Emotions; Exercise; Humans; Optimism; Sleep Quality
PubMed: 34780238
DOI: 10.1037/emo0001025 -
Psychosomatic Medicine Oct 2021Optimism is modifiable and may be associated with healthy aging. We aim to investigate whether dispositional optimism is associated with all-cause mortality in adults 70...
OBJECTIVE
Optimism is modifiable and may be associated with healthy aging. We aim to investigate whether dispositional optimism is associated with all-cause mortality in adults 70 years and older.
METHODS
Between 2010 and 2014, older adults free of serious cardiovascular disease and dementia were recruited through primary care physicians and enrolled in the Aspirin Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) clinical trial. Australian ASPREE participants were invited to participate in the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) that was running in parallel to ASPREE. Optimism was assessed at baseline using the Life Orientation Test-Revised. The association between optimism, divided into quartiles, and all-cause mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS
A total of 11,701 participants (mean [standard deviation] age = 75.1 [4.24] years; 46.6% men) returned the ALSOP Social questionnaire and completed the Life Orientation Test-Revised. During a median follow-up of 4.7 years, 469 deaths occurred. The fully adjusted model was not significant (hazard ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval = 0.58-1.06). There was evidence that age was an effect modifier of the association between optimism and longevity. Higher optimism was associated with lower mortality risk in the oldest individuals only (77+ years; hazard ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval = 0.39-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS
We observed no independent relationship between optimism and all-cause mortality in the total sample, although optimism seemed to be associated with lower risk among the oldest old (adults 77 years and older).
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Optimism; Personality
PubMed: 34334727
DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000989 -
Preventive Medicine Dec 2019Little research has examined associations of positive psychosocial factors with the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7™ (LS7) among African Americans. This...
Little research has examined associations of positive psychosocial factors with the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7™ (LS7) among African Americans. This study examined the associations between positive optimistic orientation and LS7 among African Americans. Using exam 1 data (2000-2004) from the Jackson Heart Study, we examined cross-sectional associations of optimism (in tertiles) with LS7 components [smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose] and a composite LS7 score (classified as poor, intermediate, ideal) among 4734 African Americans free of cardiovascular disease. Multivariable prevalence regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR, 95% confidence interval-CI) of intermediate and ideal (vs. poor) individual LS7 components and composite LS7 score by optimism levels, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and depressive symptoms. For LS7 components with low prevalence, we estimated odds ratios. A greater percentage of participants with high vs. low optimism were younger, female, high SES, and not depressed. After full covariate adjustment, the prevalence ratio of ideal (vs. poor) composite LS7 score was 1.24 for participants who reported high (vs. low) optimism (95% CI 1.09-1.42) at exam 1. Higher levels of optimism were also associated with greater prevalence of ideal (vs. poor) physical activity and smoking. Promoting positive optimistic orientation may be an important step toward increasing the likelihood of achieving optimal cardiovascular health among African Americans.
Topics: Black or African American; Age Factors; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Exercise; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Optimism; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Smoking; Social Class
PubMed: 31473218
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105826