Optimism, Motivation, and Mental Health

Dispositional optimists expect more good things to happen to them than bad. This positive outcome expectancy has been linked with better psychological well-being and mental health in the form of less distress, better adjustment and quality of life, better life satisfaction, better social support, and also less anxiety and depression. Expecting positive outcomes, dispositional optimists display higher motivation and persistence in goal pursuit, and when encountering obstacles or stressors they tend to engage in active, approach-type coping strategies aiming to manage or overcome. This type of coping behavior likely links optimism to mental health and well-being.