title: Optimism and Pessimism in Social Context: An Interpersonal Perspective on Resilience and Risk.
abstract: Using the interpersonal perspective, we examined social correlates of dispositional optimism. In Study 1, optimism and pessimism were associated with warm-dominant and hostile-submissive interpersonal styles, respectively, across four samples, and had expected associations with social support and interpersonal stressors. In 300 married couples, Study 2 replicated these findings regarding interpersonal styles, using self-reports and spouse ratings. Optimism-pessimism also had significant actor and partner associations with marital quality. In Study 3 (120 couples), husbands' and wives' optimism predicted increases in their own marital adjustment over time, and husbands' optimism predicted increases in wives' marital adjustment. Thus, the interpersonal perspective is a useful integrative framework for examining social processes that could contribute to associations of optimism-pessimism with physical health and emotional adjustment.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah.
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: University of Utah.
authors.forename: Jenny M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cundiff
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Kelly G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: University of Puget Sound.
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nealey-Moore
keywords: Optimism; interpersonal circumplex; marital quality; pessimism