title: Psychometric properties and population-based norms of the Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relevance of the construct optimism in health psychology has been convincingly demonstrated in numerous studies. Population-based studies about dispositional optimism and the psychometric properties of the Life Orientation Test LOT-R as well as population-based norms are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative population survey in Germany was conducted to investigate psychometric properties of the LOT-R and to deliver population-based norms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 2,372 adults aged 18-93 years were screened using self-rating instruments. Results. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed two factors. Optimism and pessimism are negatively correlated (r=-.20). Indications for convergent validity were demonstrated with depression, satisfaction with life, subjective state of health and health care utilization. Optimism is more strongly related to all indicators than pessimism. Since there are only marginal age and gender differences, norm data are given for the entire population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms the bi-dimensionality of the LOT-R and thus underpins that optimism and pessimism are two independent constructs rather than a single bipolar trait. Psychometric properties were found to be satisfactory. Together with the norm values reported in the paper, this instrument can, thus, be employed to measure dispositional optimism or pessimism in individual diagnostics as well as in epidemiological research.
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Germany. Heide.Glaesmer@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors: Heide
authors: H
authors: Glaesmer
authors: Winfried
authors: W
authors: Rief
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Martin
authors: Ricarda
authors: R
authors: Mewes
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Brähler
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Zenger
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Hinz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires