Optimism, a bias to overestimate positive and underestimate negative outcomes, may shape how children learn, confront challenges, and overcome setbacks. Although approximately 80% of adults are optimistic, childhood optimism is understudied. A racially and socioeconomically diverse community sample of 152 three- to six-year-old children participated in two experiments (one story-based, one numeric probability-based) that assessed expectations of event outcomes when the likelihood of the outcome occurring either matched or conflicted with the most desirable outcome. The results systematically demonstrate that children are optimistic, even more optimistic for themselves than others, and increasingly integrate probabilistic information into their predictions with age. Differences in optimism were found in children from different socioeconomic backgrounds and those with different levels of depressive symptoms. These findings provide insight into how children reason about the future and elucidate key factors that impact optimistic predictions in childhood.

UNASSIGNED: During the COVID-19 pandemic, young adults worldwide showed signs of distress as they were affected in their specific developmental tasks, including the construction of personal and professional futures.
UNASSIGNED: The present study aimed to assess the situational future time perspective of Italian university students during the second pandemic wave, as measured by an ad hoc constructed instrument, to explore its interaction with some dispositional traits relevant in future construction, such as optimism, sense of life, aggression, and dispositional future time perspective, and to test their effect on psychological well-being. The total sample consisted of 389 subjects (18-35 years, M = 23.5, SD = 4.4).
UNASSIGNED: The results indicated that the pandemic experience, assessed by surveying specific indicators, negatively affected the future time perspective of students, particularly those dispositionally optimistic and convinced that life has meaning. However, awareness of the negative impact that the pandemic brought to the vision of the future seems to have dampened the levels of depression and stress, while anxiety was found to be related only to dispositional traits. The results also suggested the need for educational and economic policies that help young adults develop confidence in the future and in their ability to build it.

Against the background of Job Demands-Resources and Conservation of Resources theory and research on organizational communication, this prospective study among n = 312 employees explores the significant role of perceived information process quality (PIPQ) in enhancing employees\' optimism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It thereby contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing employee optimism in challenging contexts. In this study, PIPQ is defined by the availability of timely information, clarity, and consistency in the information provided. Results from latent change score modelling revealed that employees who experienced high PIPQ, particularly consistent information, reported feeling more optimistic about work-related aspects and also experienced spillover effects into their private lives. Notably, both consistency in information prior to the pandemic and increases in consistent information during the pandemic demonstrated this beneficial effect. Moreover, timely available information also positively influenced optimism, especially regarding work-related aspects. However, the study did not find evidence that clarity in information significantly affected optimism. In summary, the findings underscore the importance of accessible and consistent information as a vital resource for employees\' ability to navigate crises.

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of psychological capital on college students\' entrepreneurial intentions. Through a combination of relevant analysis and linear regression, the primary focus is on exploring the relationship between psychological capital and its four dimensions with entrepreneurial intentions. Firstly, the items in the psychological capital questionnaire were revised to align more closely with entrepreneurial contexts. Subsequently, the average deviations and standard deviations of each dimension of psychological capital were analyzed. Then, the correlation between psychological capital and entrepreneurial intentions was examined to explore the extent of their relationship. Finally, regression analysis was conducted on both psychological capital and entrepreneurial intentions, and utilizing a recurrent neural network model, the covariant relationship between entrepreneurial psychological capital and intentions was explored. The results indicated that the average scores for entrepreneurial self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience were 3.91, 4.27, 4.19, and 4.15, respectively. The average value of psychological capital was 4.13, indicating a moderately high level. The correlation analysis between psychological capital and entrepreneurial intentions yielded a result of 0.562, indicating a moderate degree of correlation. The correlation coefficients of the four dimensions with entrepreneurial intentions were 0.390, 0.494, 0.531, and 0.467, respectively. The standardized coefficients for psychological capital and its four dimensions were 0.564, 0.382, 0.510, 0.536, and 0.468, all of which were statistically significant. Overall, psychological capital exhibited better predictive power for entrepreneurial intentions than its individual dimensions. The results from the deep learning model similarly demonstrated the positive role of psychological capital in entrepreneurial intentions, though the influence of ideological and political education (IPE) factors was relatively weaker. In conclusion, both psychological capital and IPE have a promotive effect on entrepreneurial intentions. This study provides a reference for the accurate evaluation of college students\' entrepreneurial intentions.

UNASSIGNED: College students showed a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression, with medical and nursing students experiencing particularly elevated levels of mental health challenges.Optimism significantly influences overall well-being by promoting a healthy lifestyle and cognitive responses. However, the association of optimism with sleep quality, stress, and mental health in college students remains unexplored. This study aimed to (1) explore the associations of optimism with sleep quality, stress, and mental health and (2) ascertain whether sleep quality and stress mediate the association between optimism and mental health among college students.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys with students from health science majors at a public university in the northeast United States from September to December 2022. A total of 222 students participated in the study, providing data on sociodemographics, optimism, sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression. Parallel and serial mediation models were utilized to examine the potential mediating roles of sleep quality and stress in the association between optimism and mental health.
UNASSIGNED: The study found that optimism influences anxiety and depression through both direct and indirect pathways. In line with predictions, the parallel mediation analysis revealed that the impact of optimism on anxiety (βtotal = -0.598, 95% confident interval [CI]: -0.778 to -0.392) and depression (βtotal = -0.724, 95% CI: -0.919 to -0.519) was mediated by stress and sleep quality. Furthermore, the serial mediation models revealed that stress and sleep quality co-mediated the relationship betweenoptimism and anxiety (indirect effect [IE] = -0.074, 95% CI: -0.135 to -0.029) or depression (IE = -0.084, 95% CI: -0.142 to -0.036) in a sequential manner.
UNASSIGNED: Optimism was negatively correlated with poor sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression. Enhanced optimism was linked to high sleep quality and less stress, anxiety, and depression. These insights emphasize the potential for school-based optimism interventions to improve sleep quality, ameliorate stress-related concerns, and alleviate mental health challenges in college students.

We have identified the most relevant and significant psychological factors in relation to COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in Ghana, Germany, New Zealand and India. This study recruited 1822 participants from the general populations of India (n = 411), New Zealand (n = 413), Ghana (n = 523) and Germany (n = 475) to participate in a cross-sectional online survey. After controlling for the country of residence, individual psychological factors played a significant role in shaping attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. The results also revealed strong direct predictors that explained significant portions of the variance in the COVID-19 vaccination attitudes. Positive affect emerged as the strongest contributor in Ghana (7%), while self-compassion strongly influenced COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in India (66%). Dispositional optimism was the strongest predictor in New Zealand (5%). In Germany, compassion towards others was the strongest positive predictor (2%), while psychological distress had a strong negative impact (3%). Results highlight the importance of promoting emotional well-being to enhance vaccination coverage.

Research consistently demonstrates a positive association between dispositional optimism (DO) and subjective well-being (SWB). This study takes a step forward by exploring potential mechanisms underlying this relationship, with a specific focus on the mediating role of mindful self-care (MSC). We conducted a cross-sectional online survey involving 312 Singaporean adults. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their DO, MSC practices, and overall SWB. Our findings confirmed a significant link between DO and SWB, with individuals exhibiting higher optimism reporting greater well-being. Importantly, the relationship was mediated by MSC, suggesting that optimism motivates individuals to engage in MSC practices, which in turn, enhances SWB. Moreover, DO was linked to all SWB subcomponents, even after controlling for MSC as a mediator. Among the six MSC facets, self-compassion and purpose, supportive relationships, and mindful awareness emerged as significant mediators. This study adds to the growing body of evidence recognizing the positive role of DO and MSC in improving well-being outcomes. It highlights the potential of interventions aimed at cultivating optimism as a promising approach for enhancing mindful self-care practices and ultimately promoting well-being in adults.

Supporting early-stage nurses to adapt to the field and become proficient in nursing is important to improve the quality of patient care. This study aimed to determine the effects of the nursing work environment, nursing practice readiness, and optimism on the field adaptation of early-stage nurses. A descriptive survey was conducted among 209 early-stage nurses with ≤3 years of work experience at hospitals. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, ANOVA, Pearson\'s correlation coefficients, and regression analysis with the SPSS Program. The participating nurses\' mean field adaptation score was 2.90 ± 0.40 (total score = 5) and a significant positive correlation was found between nursing work environment (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), nursing practice readiness (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), and optimism (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that the nursing work environment (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), job satisfaction (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), nursing practice readiness (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), and turnover intention (β = 0.17, p = 0.001) significantly affect the field adaptation of early stage nurses; the explanatory power was 56.1% (F = 27.55, p < 0.001). The results suggest that to facilitate the field adaptation of early-stage nurses, the nursing work environment, job satisfaction, and nursing practice readiness should be improved. Improvement in the nursing work environment and the development of additional training for field adaptation would enhance the ability of early-stage nurses to adapt to the field and, consequently, improve the quality of nursing care.

BACKGROUND: With the global population of older individuals increasing rapidly, it is important to understand the factors contributing to their well-being. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between older adults\' time perspective and their experiences of happiness and optimism.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a substantial sample size of 300 older adults from January to March 2023. The study utilized reliable and validated measures, including the Short Version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and the Arabic Scales of Happiness, Optimism, and Pessimism.
RESULTS: The study found that older adults with a negative view of the past (PN perspective) had lower levels of happiness (r=-0.374, p<0.01), while those with a hedonistic view of the present (PH perspective) had higher levels of happiness (r=0.266, p<0.01). Additionally, a fatalistic view of the present (PF perspective) was associated with lower levels of happiness (r=-0.178, p<0.05) and optimism (r=-0.168, p<0.05). Negative views of the future (FN perspective) were correlated with lower happiness levels (r=-0.546, p<0.01), while positive views of the future (FP perspective) were associated with higher levels of optimism (r=0.432, p<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with a balanced time perspective, marked by positive and negative views of the past and an optimistic outlook on the future, reported moderate happiness and optimism. Older adults with a negative view of the past and a fatalistic view of the present tend to have lower levels of happiness and optimism. On the other hand, those who have a hedonistic view of the present and a positive view of the future tend to have higher levels of happiness and optimism. Older adults with a pessimistic outlook toward past experiences or the future may require additional emotional support and targeted interventions to foster a more positive mindset.

UNASSIGNED: Breast cancer is a prevalent and emotionally challenging condition that profoundly affects women worldwide. Effectively managing the mental and emotional dimensions of this disease is crucial for the holistic well-being of patients. Psychological capital (PsyCap) has emerged as a pivotal psychological construct with the potential to effectively address these challenges. This study aims to explore the influential role of PsyCap and its constructs on the subjective well-being (SWB) of Iranian breast cancer patients.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 173 breast cancer patients participated in this study, selected through a random sampling approach. Face-to-face interview data on socio-demographics, PsyCap, and SWB were collected using a structured questionnaire. The analytical procedures encompassed independent sample t-tests, ANOVA tests, Pearson correlation tests, and stepwise multiple regression.
UNASSIGNED: The findings revealed that the majority of participants fell within the 41-50 age group (38.7%), with an average age of 46.50 ± 11.76 years, and 35.8% had tumor growth in the upper left lobe. The average PsyCap score was 107.93 ± 1.52 (out of a possible score of 144), whereas SWB scored 196.51 ± 1.90 (out of 291). Notably, PsyCap showed a positive correlation with SWB (r = 0.119), accounting for approximately 8% of the variance in SWB. The final regression model showed the substantial predictive roles of PsyCap (1.667), self-efficacy (-3.692), age (-2.977), and education (-3.939) in shaping SWB.
UNASSIGNED: Focusing on understanding and addressing factors like PsyCap, self-efficacy, and educational support could improve SWB, offering a potential avenue for comprehensive and individualized psychosocial care for women with breast cancer.