International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries

Funder, David C.; Baranski, Erica; Sweeny, Kate; Gardiner, Gwendolyn; Members of the International Situations Project; Funder, David

Abstract

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.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 28, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 30, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 8, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Personality
• Print ISSN: 0022-3506
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-6494
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 89
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 288-304
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12582
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6438004