Optimism and Stress Appraisal: Evaluation of Two Theoretical Models in Prediction of Psychological Adjustment

The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of optimism, and stress appraisal on coping and psychological adjustment based on Scheier & Carver’ s and Lazarus & Folkman’ s models. Five questionnaires (Life Orientation Test-Revised, Stress Appraisal, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale and General Health Questionnaire) were administered to 208 females and 147 males that were volunteer to university entrance examination. Comparative analyses indicated that optimists and pessimists differed significantly in secondary (but not primary) appraisal. Regression analyses indicated that optimism-pessimism and stress appraisal variables account for a significant amount of the variance in coping strategies and psychological adjustment. In whole results showed that both models can predict psychological adjustment, although situational variables (stress appraisal) have greater contributions than personal variables (optimism).