Do Optimists Handle Stress Better Than Pessimists?
When the world is turned upside down and seems like it's going to hell in a handbasket, it's hard to be optimistic. Some situations are so dire that no amount of optimism or "response-focused emotion regulation" can make things better. In earth-shaking circumstances or a humanitarian crisis, being a pragmatic realist is probably better for our emotional well-being than toxic positivity or Pollyannaism.
That said, when coping with daily stressors (work stress, home stress, arguments), new research suggests that optimism helps older adults maintain emotional well-being via "antecedent-focused emotion regulation." During AFER, optimists utilize an explanatory style that involves reframing potential stressors as "challenges not threats" early in the emotion-generating process, or they steer clear and avoid potential stressors altogether.
This 20-year study led by a team of researchers from Boston University and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that antecedent-focused emotion regulation helps optimists avoid or minimize the impact of stressful circumstances before they happen.
1. Optimism Isn't a Winning Strategy for Coping with Daily Stressors If You're Already Stressed Out
Dispositional optimism is loosely defined as the tendency to expect positive outcomes based on a belief that adverse events are fleeting, situation-specific, and external to one's core being.
When first author Lewina Lee and colleagues set out to study how optimism affects people's response to daily stressors, they expected to find that optimists would have less emotional reactivity to daily stressors and bounce back faster (emotional recovery) based on the so-called buffering hypothesis.
2. Antecedent-Based Emotion Regulation Has Stress-Busting Potential
To their surprise, Lee et al. found that their buffering hypothesis fell flat; optimists weren't necessarily less emotionally reactive and didn't always bounce back faster than pessimists once they'd already encountered a daily stressor.
However, planning ahead and developing a coping strategy via antecedent-focused emotion regulation before experiencing stressors in the heat of the moment did help optimists stay calm, cool, and collected in the face of day-to-day stressors.
Take-Home Message: Antecedent Coping Strategies Are Key
"In this prospective study on optimism and daily stress processes, our hypothesis that optimism would buffer the effects of daily stressors on daily affect was not supported," the authors conclude. Nevertheless, optimism appears to preserve emotional well-being among older adults if they use antecedent strategies—which limit exposure and negative perceptions of potentially stressful circumstances before they happen—early in the emotion-generative process."
*After reading this article, I realized how important it is to have a positive outlook on life. As the article stated, having a optimistic look on life can help reduce emotional reactivity when you are experiencing a stressful situation. Changing your thinking can be difficult, but trying to look on the bright side of everything can really help your stress level later on!*
Do you believe that you are more of a "glass half-full" or "glass half-empty" type of person? How do you find yourself reacting when you are in a stressful situation?
#EmotionalReactivity #Stress #Optimism
Link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202203/do-optimists-handle-stress-better-pessimists
@fruityPond7887
So I really liked what this paragraph had to say, especially with antecedent-focused emotion regulation. The story that we tell ourselves (as in, perception = reality) is so important. So I think it almost goes without saying that by changing the story of a threat into a challenge, we then can gain that much more emotional control (and insight) into that particular situation.
As per your question, I would have to say that I am more of a glass half-full person--even prior to discovering meditation. I can tell you that, especially since discovering meditation, my initial reaction to a stressful situation is to automatically take stock of how and why I'm feeling the way that I am. By doing this, it allows me to gauge my reaction to the stressful situation and helps me to see if that reaction is entirely merited.
@sereneSunset26
Hi Sunset! I agree that taking a positive outlook on a challenge early in the emotional process is key! When we've dug ourselves in that rabbit hole of negativity, it can be hard to get ourselves out and it feels like we just keep spiraling deeper and deeper.
I am really glad to hear that you are a "glass half-full" person and that meditation helps you with that as well! I really should practice meditation, but I feel that I don't have the patience for it! 😂
@fruityPond7887 I'm currently a "glass half-empty" type of person but I'm making progress in becoming a "glass half-full" person. Thank you for sharing this article!
@comfortableNight4463 That's really awesome! As long as you are always working towards becoming a better version of yourself, that's all you can do!!
@fruityPond7887 Agreed! Thank you!
@comfortableNight4463 You're very welcome!!
@fruityPond7887
Personally as someone who always would hear, be an optimist! Stop being a pessimist! this article has been a really interesting read.
I personally think that both mindsets has a time and place for them in which they can be used to set your mindset to what you want to achieve. I like to be pessimistic when there is a high standard I want to achieve and being critical of skills and reality is a great way to push myself to reach it. Other times being optimist helps keep your confidence and expect good things! Like going out for a hangout, I like to expect the best time which usually gets me hyped up to hang out with them. They're both useful! Just in the right context.
@sunnyWriting4806 I really love your perspective on this! I never thought of it like that! You're right- making sure to keep a balance can keep our mindset in terms of "hope for the best, expect the worst." Thanks for your insight!
