BACKGROUND: Low optimism and high pessimism have predicted depressive symptoms in several studies, but the associations in the other direction, from depressive symptoms to future optimism and pessimism, have been unexplored. We examined bidirectional associations of optimism and pessimism with depressive symptoms in adulthood.
METHODS: A population-based sample of 4011 Finnish adults (55 % women) was analyzed with a 15-year prospective follow-up period from age 31 to age 46. Optimism and pessimism were measured with the Life Orientation Test-Revised, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Symptom Checklist-25. Temporal associations were investigated with cross-lagged panel models.
RESULTS: According to the model fit indices (RMSEA < 0.04, CFI ≥ 0.97) optimism and pessimism had bidirectional relationships with depressive symptoms: optimism predicted lower depressive symptoms (β = -0.09, p < .001), and depressive symptoms predicted lower optimism (β = -0.10, p < .001) in the follow-up. Also, pessimism predicted higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.08, p < .001), and depressive symptoms predicted higher pessimism (β = 0.09, p < .001) in the follow-up. In the participants with clinically high depressive symptoms at age 31, the predictive associations from optimism and pessimism to depressive symptoms remained, but associations in the other direction were attenuated.
CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up study included only two time points with a 15-year time gap, which does not consider the possible fluctuation in the study variables between the measured times.
CONCLUSIONS: Dispositional optimism and pessimism may have bidirectional relationships with depressive symptoms in adulthood when the baseline depressive symptoms are below the clinical level.

OBJECTIVE: Large-scale studies investigating health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cancer survivors are limited. This study aims to investigate HRQL and its relation to optimism and social support among Australian women following a cancer diagnosis.
METHODS: Data were from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women\'s Health, a large cohort study (n = 14,715; born 1946-51), with 1428 incident cancer cases ascertained 1996-2017 via linkage to the Australian Cancer Database. HRQL was measured using the Short Form-36 (median 1.7 years post-cancer-diagnosis). Multivariable linear regression was performed on each HRQL domain, separately for all cancers combined, major cancer sites, and cancer-free peers.
RESULTS: Higher optimism and social support were significantly associated with better HRQL across various domains in women with and without a cancer diagnosis (p < 0.05). Mean HRQL scores across all domains for all cancer sites were significantly higher among optimistic versus not optimistic women with cancer (p < 0.05). Adjusting for sociodemographic and other health conditions, lower optimism was associated with reduced scores across all domains, with greater reductions in mental health (adjusted mean difference (AMD) = -11.54, p < 0.01) followed by general health (AMD = -11.08, p < 0.01). Social support was less consistently related to HRQL scores, and following adjustment was only significantly associated with social functioning (AMD = -7.22, p < 0.01) and mental health (AMD = -6.34, p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight a strong connection between optimism, social support, and HRQL among cancer survivors. Providing psychosocial support and addressing behavioral and socioeconomic factors and other health conditions associated with optimism and social support may improve HRQL.

UNASSIGNED: This study analyzes, in nurses, the influence of openness to experience and hardiness (assessed at baseline and one year after the COVID-19 pandemic respectively) on the development of optimism (assessed two years after the COVID-19 pandemic). Concerns about self-contagion were included as a moderating variable, given their relevance as a risk factor.
UNASSIGNED: Nurses have been among the healthcare professionals most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most previous studies have focused on the variables contributing to psychological symptoms, whilst the attention given to the variables adding to the well-being of these professionals has been much scarcer.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective study was carried out.
UNASSIGNED: This study was carried out using three data collection periods: Period 1 (From May to June 2020), Period 2 (From January 2021 to April 2021), and Period 3 (From April 2022 to July 2022), with the participation of 151 Spanish nurses, using online self-reporting questionnaires. The study followed the STROBE statement.
UNASSIGNED: The results showed that the proposed model was statistically significant. There was a positive effect of openness to experience (year 2020) on hardiness assessed one year later (year 2021). Similarly, hardiness had a positive effect on optimism assessed another year on (year 2022).
UNASSIGNED: Concerns about self-contagion behaved as a moderator in the relationship between openness to experience and hardiness (the relationship between openness and hardiness was statistically significant when contagion concern was higher). Relevance to clinical practice: In-depth understanding of the psychological processes that trigger psychological strengths (i.e. optimism) as a result of adverse situations (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic) is essential in promoting the mental health of healthcare professionals. Interventions targeting resilient personality traits and cognitive flexibility are key to this goal. No Patient or Public Contribution: The participants contributed exclusively to the collection of the sample.

UNASSIGNED: Previous research highlighted the importance of investigating distinct protective factors that predict the experience of positive emotions during stressful situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this longitudinal study, we specifically focused on positive expectancies towards the future (optimism, response expectancy, and response hope) in relation to the experience of positive emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our primary objectives were to identify the best predictors for experiencing short-term and long-term positive emotions and investigate their interrelationships.
UNASSIGNED: Data from 271 participants (average age = 29.2 years, 84.7% female) were analyzed using four cross-lagged models.
UNASSIGNED: Results showed that response expectancy was the best predictor for experiencing positive emotions in the short term, while optimism was the best predictor for experiencing positive emotions in the long term. Additionally, through further exploratory analysis, multiple bidirectional relationships were identified between positive expectancies and positive emotions.
UNASSIGNED: Our results highlight the significant role played by positive expectancies in predicting the experience of positive emotions. Specifically, dispositional optimism emerged as a stronger predictor of longer-term positive emotions, whereas response expectancy proved to be a better predictor of shorter-term positive emotions. Thus, interventions targeting positive expectancies have the potential to enhance emotional functioning in individuals during challenging situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Response expectancy positively predicts positive emotions in the short term.Optimism positively predicts positive emotions in the long term.Response expectancy positively predicts optimism in the short and long term.Response expectancy positively predicts response hope in the short term.Response hope negatively predicts optimism in the short and long term.Positive emotions positively predict positive expectancies (response expectancy, response hope, and optimism) on short term.The discrepancy score negatively predicts positive emotions in the short term.The discrepancy score negatively predicts optimism in the short and long term.

BACKGROUND: The long-term success of organ transplantation (Tx) depends on the transplant recipient\'s ability to self-manage symptoms, treatment, lifestyle changes, and psychosocial consequences. Health behavior (HB) determinants include personality traits such as optimism, self-efficacy, and health locus of control.
OBJECTIVE: Assessing the relationship between personal resources and expectations and health behaviors of organ transplant recipients.
METHODS: The study was conducted between 01/04/2018 and 30/10/2019 at 3 transplant centers in Poland. The study group consisted of 243 Tx recipients of kidney, heart, liver, and lung. The Health Behavior Inventory, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC), General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dispositional Optimism Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to collect data.
RESULTS: The study group had medium levels of dispositional optimism (mean 15) and high levels of self-efficacy (mean 30.18). The MHLC scale was dominated by a belief in the influence of others and an internal locus of control over one\'s health. The respondents presented a high level of HB (mean 92.09). A positive relationship was found between personal resources (self-efficacy and optimism), MHLC and HB. The presence of depression and anxiety negatively affected personal resources and internal locus of health control and HB in terms of a positive mental attitude. Type of Tx differentiated internal locus of health control and HB. Predictors of HB were dispositional optimism, self-efficacy, influence of others with health locus of control, symptoms of depression, age and time since transplantation-explaining between 6.1% and 14.5% of health behavior categories.
CONCLUSIONS: To improve health practices among organ recipients, strengthening their personal resources is recommended. It is necessary to form an internal locus of control for adherence to positive HB.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are the most prevalent mental disorders associated with aging. Positive thinking training is a way to help older adults cope with anxiety and depression and increase their happiness. This study aimed to determine the effect of positive thinking training on anxiety and happiness among older adults.
METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 48 older adults referred to two comprehensive health service facilities in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman. The intervention (n = 24) and control (n = 24) groups were randomly assigned from a convenience sample of older adults. The intervention group attended eight two-hour training sessions on positive thinking. Data were collected before and one month after the positive thinking training using Beck Anxiety Inventory and Oxford Happiness Inventory. All statistical procedures were performed in SPSS software (version 22), with the significance level set to P = 0.05.
RESULTS: Before the positive thinking program was delivered, the mean anxiety scores in the intervention and control groups were 13.98 ± 8.61 and 19.25 ± 11.67, respectively. After the intervention was completed, the mean scores for the intervention and control groups were 4.50 ± 4.07 and 15.54 ± 9.04, indicating a significant reduction in anxiety among intervention group participants (t = -5.45, P < 0.001). The mean baseline happiness scores in the intervention and control groups were 26.58 ± 12.40 and 37.91 ± 5.57, respectively, which changed to 62.91 ± 4.66 and 35.62 ± 10.62 at the post-test. Positive thinking training improved happiness in a significant manner (t = -4.08, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed that positive thinking training decreased anxiety and enhanced happiness among older adults. Given the growing elderly population, clinical managers, clinical specialists, nurses in health care centers, and those involved in elderly care facilities can benefit from this non-pharmacological treatment program for older adults suffering from anxiety and depression. It is suggested that preventive programs based on positive psychology be developed to aid in the prevention of people\'s declining happiness and increasing anxiety as they age.

Objectives: Mid- or early-late-life cognitive function is an indicator for developing late-life dementia. However, it is still unclear whether rural/urban living contexts provide cognitive benefits across adulthood. Further, higher optimism serves as a general protective factor for many health outcomes. The present study examines associations between rurality/urbanicity, optimism, and change in mid/late-life cognitive functions over time. Methods: Data were from waves 1 to 3 (1995-2015) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 2,507). Structural equation models examine whether long-term rural living across both waves (1-2) or intermittent rural living at one wave is associated with better cognitive function over 20 years, compared to no rural living, while controlling for prior cognitive function and covariates (baseline socio-demographics, health, and functional status). Additionally, we assessed if optimism mediates the above associations. Results: After controlling for covariates, long-term rural living (waves 1-2) was indirectly (through less optimism) associated with significantly lower levels of cognitive executive function and episodic memory in wave 3. Conclusions: While long-term rural living and cognitive outcomes have no direct association for MIDUS middle-aged and older adults, mediating roles of optimism in these associations were evident. Future investigations could examine mechanisms that underlie these risk/protective factors on late-life cognition.

UNASSIGNED: Mental health recovery is a critical concept that needs to be thoroughly understood and supported by nurses. Undergraduate nurse educators have the opportunity to clarify misconceptions and cultivate positive recovery attitudes.
UNASSIGNED: To assess the impact of an undergraduate nursing course on attitudes toward mental health recovery and the relationship between recovery attitudes and prejudice toward those who experience a mental illness.
UNASSIGNED: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest, nonequivalent-control group study was conducted using a sample of undergraduate nursing students in New York City (N = 126). The intervention group was assigned to an undergraduate mental health nursing course and the control group to a pediatric/maternal health nursing course. Attitudes toward mental health recovery and prejudice were measured at the beginning and end of the semester. Two-way mixed analyses of variance were used to determine the differences in students\' attitudes. Pearson product-moment correlation analyses were used to assess the relationship between prejudice toward people who experience a mental illness and attitudes toward recovery.
UNASSIGNED: The mental health nursing course had no measurable impact on students\' recovery attitudes. However, there was a moderate-to-strong inverse relationship between recovery attitudes and prejudice toward those who experience a general mental illness (r = -0.54), depression (r = -0.60), or schizophrenia (r = -0.43).
UNASSIGNED: Curriculum reform is needed to optimize the impact of undergraduate education on students\' attitudes. Possible changes include a more holistic approach to mental health that does not over accentuate the biomedical model, the use of nontraditional clinical sites that provide students an opportunity to interact with those further along in their recovery, and the inclusion of those in recovery in curriculum development. As there was a moderate-to-strong inverse relationship between recovery attitudes and prejudice, educational interventions that positively impact one may also impact the other. Further research is needed to investigate if the relationship is causal.

This study explored nurses\' perceptions of the core competencies required for providing postresuscitation care in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Qualitative conventional content analysis.
17 nurses selected with purposeful sampling method.
Three educational hospitals in northwest of Iran.
Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection and they were analysed using conventional content analysis.
Seven main categories have emerged from the data. The core competencies for nurses providing postresuscitation were identified as: quality assurance, providing evidence-based care, monitoring and presence, situation management, professionalism, positive attitude and providing family centred care.
The postresuscitation period is a unique and critical time requiring highly competent nursing care. Several core competencies for providing high-quality nursing care during postresuscitation period were identified through nurses\' experience in caring for patients postresuscitation.

The global health crisis initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic triggered unparalleled economic upheavals. In this comprehensive study of 16 countries categorized by their infection rates, we scrutinize the impact of a range of variables on stock market indices and calculate four critical ratios derived from those variables. Our regression analyses reveal striking differences in how the variables influenced stock indices in countries with low and high infection rates. Notably, in countries with low infection rates, all variables exhibited significant effects on stock returns. An increase in infection numbers and fatalities correlated with greater stock market declines, underscoring the market\'s sensitivity to the health and economic risks posed by the pandemic. Recovery and testing rates also displayed positive associations with stock returns, reflecting investor optimism concerning potential recovery scenarios. Conversely, nations grappling with high infection rates experienced notably weaker effects from these variables. Although fatalities had a negative impact on stock indices, other factors, including recoveries, infections, and testing rates, did not result in significant effects. This suggests the likelihood that markets in high-infection countries had likely factored pandemic conditions into their pricing, thereby reducing the immediate impact of these metrics on stock returns. Our findings underscore the intricacies of the COVID-19 pandemic\'s impact on stock markets and highlight the importance of tailored strategies and policies for distinct country categories. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and investors navigating financial markets during global health crises and preparing for future epidemics.