Use of the life optimism test among adolescents in a clinical setting: A report of reliability testing

doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(97)00123-7

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 21, Issue 4, October 1997, Pages 218-220

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(97)00123-7 Get rights and content

This study examined the consistency and reliability of the Life Optimism Test (LOT) among patients attending an adolescent medicine clinic. The LOT had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.56 at pretest to 0.76 at posttest) and good 1-week test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.84). These data support use of the LOT to measure optimism among adolescents.

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Cited by (20)

Association of optimism with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents
2013, Journal of Adolescent Health
Citation Excerpt :
We measured optimism using the Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT-R), a six-item revision of the Life Orientation Test [22]. Although the original Life Orientation Test has been validated in youth [23], a revised version (the LOT-R) created by alternate scoring of the original test was subsequently introduced to better account for other competing predictors of disposition, such as coping strategies [22], and is now the accepted measure. Because the LOT-R has not been validated for use in adolescents, we performed a sensitivity analysis comparing correlations between each biomarker with both the LOT and LOT-R (Table 1).
Dispositional optimism is a psychological trait associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes in adults. However, it is not known whether these associations are present in adolescents. We attempted to determine whether an association exits between optimism and 9 biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk during adolescence. Because cardiometabolic risk differs by race and ethnicity, we also explored whether race and ethnicity moderated the optimism–cardiometabolic risk relationship.
This was a cross-sectional study of 529 non-Hispanic white and 421 non-Hispanic black seventh through 12th graders living in greater Cincinnati in 2001–2002. We measured dispositional optimism with the Life-Orientation Test–Revised as a single continuum and as separate optimism and pessimism dimensions. Multivariable regression analyses tested for associations between optimism and nine biomarkers of risk (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, lipids, insulin, glucose, and fibrinogen), adjusting for age, gender, parent education, body mass index, smoking, and pubertal stage.
Dispositional optimism with the Life-Orientation Test–Revised as a single continuum was inversely associated with two risks (interleukin-6, β = −.03, p = .02; insulin, β = −.02, p = .01), but only among blacks. Optimism and pessimism were inversely related (R = −.27, p < .001) and both were higher in blacks than whites (p < .001). Optimism was directly associated with high-density lipoprotein among all subjects (β = .42, p = .03), and among blacks (β = .74, p = .02) but not whites. Among blacks, optimism was also inversely associated with interleukin-6 (β = −.07, p = .001) and triglycerides (β = −.02, p = .04). Pessimism was inversely associated with glucose, but only in whites (β = −.38, p = .03).
Associations between dispositional optimism and cardiometabolic risks are present in adolescence and vary by race and ethnicity. A better understanding of the natural history of these associations over the lifespan may help decrease disparities and prevent cardiometabolic disease.
Optimism and the socioeconomic status gradient in adolescent adiposity
2011, Journal of Adolescent Health
Citation Excerpt :
The Institutional Review Boards at the participating university and local children's hospital approved all study procedures. Optimism was assessed using the Life Orientation Test, a scale validated for use in adolescents [7]. Parent education as reported by a parent/guardian, a measure less dynamic than income, was used to indicate SES.
To assess whether dispositional optimism is associated with adiposity and to explore whether dispositional optimism mediates the relationship between parent education and adiposity (body mass index [BMI] z-score).
Multivariate regression analyses of data were collected from 1,298 non-Hispanic black and white adolescents aged 12–19 years from a single Midwestern public school district.
Less optimistic adolescents had higher BMI z-scores (r = −.09, p < .001). Addition of dispositional optimism to the regression model caused an approximately 10% attenuation of the parent education and BMI z-score relationship. Sobel tests confirmed that this attenuation indicated partial mediation.
Lower dispositional optimism is associated with higher adiposity and this association accounts for some of the influence of parent education on adolescent adiposity.
Factors related to performance of health practices among asian adolescents in the United States
2010, Asian Nursing Research
This study examined factors related to positive health practices (PHP) among Asian adolescents. More specifically, it tested theoretical relationships postulated between PHP and social support, optimism, self-esteem, loneliness, and acculturation in this population.
A correlational research design was used and a convenience sample of 151 Asian adolescents was obtained. Participants completed a demographic sheet and six study instruments.
Significant positive relationships were found between reported performance of PHP and social support, optimism, self-esteem, and acculturation. A significant inverse relationship was found between loneliness and PHP.
Study findings extend existing knowledge and contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base regarding health practices among Asian adolescents. Having this knowledge base provides practitioners with a better understanding of the factors related to health practices in Asian adolescents and assists them in developing culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting PHP in this population.
Mediators of the Relationship between Social Support and Positive Health Practices in Middle Adolescents
2008, Journal of Pediatric Health Care
Citation Excerpt :
In addition, the findings of those studies have been consistent with the theoretic literature. For example, Goodman, Knight, and DuRant (1997) and Mahon and Yarcheski (2002) reported coefficient α values ranging from .58 to .78 in samples of adolescents. In the present sample, the coefficient α was .83.
This correlational study developed and tested theory to better understand positive health practices (PHPs) in middle adolescents. It tested theoretic relationships postulated between PHPs and (a) social support (SS), (b) optimism, and (c) loneliness, and between SS and the variables of optimism and loneliness. Optimism and loneliness were tested as possible mediators in the relationship between SS and PHPs.
A convenience sample of 204 middle adolescents was obtained. Participants completed a demographic sheet and four instruments.
There were statistically significant positive relationships between SS (r = .44) and optimism (r = .54) with PHPs. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between loneliness (r = −.39) and PHPs. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between optimism (r = .63) and SS. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between loneliness (r = −.76) and SS. Optimism was found to partially mediate the relationship between SS and PHP; loneliness did not.
Findings contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base regarding health practices in middle adolescents.
Socioeconomic Differences in Adolescent Stress: The Role of Psychological Resources
2007, Journal of Adolescent Health
Citation Excerpt :
Moreover, this study found that optimism explains more of the SES-stress relation among whites relative to blacks. Because the LOT, unlike the A-COPE, has been validated in a diverse sample of youth [21], it is likely that these differences are true differences, and not an artifact related to measurement. In contrast to optimism, which may link lower parent education and higher stress, coping’s relationship to stress appeared unrelated to the SES-stress gradient.
To investigate whether psychological resources influenced the association between parent education (PE), a marker of socioeconomic status (SES), and perceived stress.
Cross-sectional analyses were conducted in a sample of 1167 non-Hispanic black and white junior and senior high school students from a Midwestern public school district in 2002–2003. Hierarchical multivariable regression analyses examined relationships between PE (high school graduate or less = E1, > high school, < college = E2, college graduate = E3, and professional degree = E4), and psychological resources (optimism and coping style) on teens’ perceived stress. Greater optimism and adaptive coping were hypothesized to influence (i.e., mediate or moderate) the relationship between higher PE and lower stress.
Relative to adolescents from families with a professionally educated parent, adolescents with lower parent education had higher perceived stress (E3 β = 1.70, p < .01, E2 β = 1.94, p < .01, E1 β = 3.19, p < .0001). Both psychological resources were associated with stress: higher optimism (β = − .58, p < .0001) and engagement coping (β = − .19, p < .0001) were associated with less stress and higher disengagement coping was associated with more stress (β = .09, p < .01). Adding optimism to the regression model attenuated the effect of SES by nearly 30%, suggesting that optimism partially mediates the inverse SES-stress relationship. Mediation was confirmed using a Sobel test (p < .01).
Adolescents from families with lower parent education are less optimistic than teens from more educated families. This pessimism may be a mechanism through which lower SES increases stress in adolescence.
Experience of life hassles and psychological adjustment among adolescents: Does it make a difference if one is optimistic or pessimistic?
2003, Personality and Individual Differences
This study examined optimism–pessimism as a moderator of the link between recent hassles and psychological maladjustment (viz. depressive symptoms and hopelessness) in a sample of adolescents (N=263). Results indicated that optimism–pessimism and hassles significantly predicted scores on each adjustment measure. Moreover, a significant Optimism–Pessimism×Hassles interaction was found in predicting depressive symptoms and hopelessness. Consistent with the proposed interaction model, a plot of the significant interactions indicated that the link between hassles and poor psychological adjustment was significantly more exacerbated for pessimistic compared to optimistic adolescents. Implications of the present findings are discussed.

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: This study was funded in part by Project MCJ-MA 259195 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS.

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Use of the life optimism test among adolescents in a clinical setting: A report of reliability testing

Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies

Health Psychol

Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: The beneficial effects on physical and psychological wellbeing

J Personal Social Psychol

How coping mediates the effect of optimism on distress: A study of women with early stage breast cancer

J Personal Social Psychol

Modeling cognitive adaptation: A longitudinal investigation of the impact of individual differences and coping on college adjustment and performance

J Personal Social Psychol

Psychological determinants of health and performance: The tangled web of desireable and undesireable characteristics

J Personal Social Psychol