Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test.

TLDR

Research on dispositional optimism measured by the Life Orientation Test has been challenged because its effects may be confounded by neuroticism, and the scale may benefit from revision. The study aims to describe a minor modification to the Life Orientation Test and assess its psychometric properties. The authors revised the LOT and collected data from 4,309 participants to evaluate the revised scale's reliability and validity. In the sample, optimism remained significantly associated with depression and coping after controlling for neuroticism, trait anxiety, self‑mastery, and self‑esteem, demonstrating the LOT’s predictive and discriminant validity.

Abstract

Research on dispositional optimism as assessed by the Life Orientation Test (Scheier & Carver, 1985) has been challenged on the grounds that effects attributed to optimism are indistinguishable from those of unmeasured third variables, most notably, neuroticism. Data from 4,309 subjects show that associations between optimism and both depression and aspects of coping remain significant even when the effects of neuroticism, as well as the effects of trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem, are statistically controlled. Thus, the Life Orientation Test does appear to possess adequate predictive and discriminant validity. Examination of the scale on somewhat different grounds, however, does suggest that future applications can benefit from its revision. Thus, we also describe a minor modification to the Life Orientation Test, along with data bearing on the revised scale's psychometric properties.