Optimism can stimulate healthy habits. This was created by a group of American scientists who have studied personal characteristics that help people cope with long -term stress, such as coronavirus pandemia.
This was reported by the press service of the University of Syracuse (USA).
We investigated optimism because it motivates the action. Since optimists are positive in relation to stressful situations, they will be more likely to solve the problem directly or try to adapt when the situation is uncontrollable, the researchers say.
Scientists used the research data “Health and Pension” – a major study in which the national representative sample of Americans from 50 years and older took part:
- In 2016, the study participants answered questions that evaluated their level of optimism, for example, “in indefinite times I usually expect the best,” and, for example, pessimism: “I almost never expect everything in my opinion”;
- During the Covid-19 pandemic (from March to May 2020), respondents responded to health behavior, which increases or reduces the risk of covid transmission, including the frequency of masks, travel habits and the likelihood that it will remain at home.
Scientists used these data to study how people’s thinking affected their psychological and physical condition in difficult times.
They found that more optimism contributes to stability and well-being, when people face stress, such as a pandemic, while less pessimism is associated with safe health regarding health, the university’s press service will say.
It is noted that both optimism and pessimism had independent associations with a psychological well:
- People who are more optimistic and less pessimistic, less concerned, were less stressful and loneliness and were more stable. This was partly due to the fact that these people were engaged in greater physical activity and felt greater social support and less stress from their relationship;
- When it comes to the behavior in Covid/Health, Pessimism played a significant role, but optimism – no. In other words, people with less pessimistic thinking (but no more optimistic), who have more weak negative expectations were prone to less risky behavior, such as traveling and more at home, starting from viewing of the TV and ending with gardening and meditation;
- People with a lower level of pessimism mentioned that they changed their behavior in order to adapt to the situation, more often met with people in Zoom and played sports at home (instead of going to the gym and meeting people personally). It was these changes in behavior, such as more exercises, that partially contributed to the improvement of the well -being of people.
In general, ordinary optimism/pessimism is not that a person thinks that he will not get sick or that he will become more likely (compared to others), and that she knows reality and still thinks that everything will eventually be adjusted, – Scientists emphasize. – Such positive thinking helps people solve problems and cope with them. In the end, if you think that nothing works, why try at all?
Scientists say that even before the pandemic there was evidence that optimistic people succeed with many situations.
Although additional studies are needed to understand why, our study showed that optimists are better even with new difficulties, the researchers summarize. – Thus, the development of optimism and the ability to cope with difficulties can help maintain and improve mental health in different situations.
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Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.