Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Power of Positivity: Exploring the Impact of Optimism and Self-Efficacy on Quality of Life

Publication Date

Fall 11-25-2024

College

Sciences and Mathematics, College of

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Abigail Heller

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Optimists have been shown to have higher overall quality of life (satisfaction) and use more action and reframing coping styles compared to pessimists (Harju, 1998). Optimism is defined as “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome” (Merriam-Webster), and quality of life is the standard of health, happiness, comfort/general wellbeing of a person/group (Oxford Languages). Self-efficacy is a person's belief in their ability to accomplish tasks and goals (Bandura, 1977), and it is related to optimism and can sometimes be responsible for results that are attributed to optimism and thus it was controlled for in the regression performed in this study. This study examined the relationship between optimism and quality of life while controlling for self-efficacy. In this study, college students (N = 40) filled out a survey on Qualtrics that measured demographics, optimism level, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Results indicated that higher optimism was significantly correlated with quality of life r(38) = .51, p < .001, r^2 = .26. However, when controlling for self-efficacy, optimism did not significantly predict higher quality of life, b = 1.33, SE = 0.95, t(37) = 1.40, p = 0.17, 95% CI [-0.59, 3.25], sr2 = .03. Self-efficacy did significantly predict quality of life after controlling for optimism, b= 2.19, SE = .73, t(37) = 3.01, p < .005, 95% CI [0.71, 3.66] sr^2 =.15. Results suggest that self-efficacy can accurately predict quality of life after controlling for optimism, but optimism did not predict higher quality of life when controlling for self-efficacy.

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