The Interaction Between Optimism and Pessimism Predicted the Perceived Risk of Infection During the Covid-19 Pandemic

An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID13677233
AuthorsLuca Simione (0000-0003-1938-8466, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy, corresponding author), Camilla Gnagnarella (Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Umane, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Rome, Italy), Giulia Spina (0000-0002-5685-5468, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy), Giuseppe Bersani (0000-0002-4571-3261, Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-chirurgiche, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Rome, Italy)
Year2023
Volume127
Issue6
Pages2918-2934
Publication date2023-01-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00332941231153320
PMID36688487
OpenAlexW4317780645
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited33

In this study, we examined the relationship between optimism and pessimism associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health, and perceived risk of infection. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that, when optimism and pessimism were high during the pandemic period, a worse mental health and a higher perception of risk would be reported. To this end, a convenience sample of 374 Italian adults was enrolled. Measures included perceived stress, optimism, and pessimism associated with the development of the pandemic situation, as well as the perceived risk of Covid-19 infection. The results showed that optimism and pessimism were associated with perceived stress and Covid-19 risk perception while controlling for demographic variables. Optimism and stress were negatively related, while pessimism was positively related to both stress and risk perception. Furthermore, the interaction between optimism and optimism was significant, with a higher perception of risk in the presence of both high optimism and pessimism, and a lower perception of risk with high optimism and low pessimism. These results support the hypothesis that optimism and pessimism interacted in predicting Covid-19 risk perception and show that they should be measured as partially correlated but independent constructs in future investigations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Disease · Exploratory research · Optimism · Pandemic · Perception · Pessimism · Risk perception · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychology · Social Psychology

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