Happy and Healthy

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how contemporary theorists are increasingly concerned with the potential health benefits of optimism and the potential consequences pessimistic behavior may have on an individual's long-term health and well-being. The paper examines a study by M. Kivimaki that shows how an optimistic attitude may help individuals cope with dramatic life events, including chronic illness or death among close family. The study proves that disposition may play a key role in one's health and recovery after a major and even minor illness. Further, the paper points out that the results of this study imply that attitude adjustments may significantly impact one's health and well-being in the long term.

Outline:
Overview
Summarize Features of Article
Hypothesis and Research Questions
Study Participants and Methods
Strengths, Weaknesses and Implications
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"In the article "Optimism and Pessimism as Predictors of Change in Health After Death or Onset of Severe Illness in Family" the authors examine changes occurring in health after a major life event including onset of a severe illness in the family or the death of a loved one or family member. The primary objective of the study is to predict whether optimistic attitudes will result in better coping ability and a more positive health outcome among study participants. The authors assume that this will occur, hypothesizing that optimism contributes to better outcomes among patients dealing with major life events or coping with the illness or death of a loved one."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Chang, E.C. (1996). "Cultural differences in optimism, pessimism and coping: Predictors of subsequent adjustment in Asian American and Caucasian American college students." Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43(1): 113-123.
• Dohrenwend, B.S., Krasnoff, L., Askenasy, A.R., & Dohrenwend, B.P. (1982). "The psychiatric epidemiology research interview life events scale. In, L. Goldberg & S. Breznitz, (Eds)., Handbook of stress; Theoretical and clinical aspects (332-363). New York: Free Press.
• Kivimaki, M., Vahtera, J., Elovainio, M., Helenius, H., Singh-Manoux, A. & Pentii, J. (2005). "Optimism and Pessimism as Predictors of Change in Health After Death or Onset of Severe Illness in Family." Healthy Psychology, 24(4): 413-21. 24, March 2006: http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/hea244413.pdf
• Lai, J.C.L. (1997). "Relative predictive power of the optimism vs. the pessimism index of a Chinese version of the Life Orientation Test." The Psychological Record, 47(3): 399.
• Norem, J.K. (2001). The positive power of negative thinking: Using defensive pessimism to manage anxiety and perform at your peak. Cambridge: Basic Books.

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