Optimism And Its Relationship With Physical And Mental Health

Various researches have been carried out optimism as a psychological phenomenon. Optimists are people who anticipate future outcomes to be positive. Conversely, pessimistic people are those who display more negative anticipations for the future. Positive and negative expectations regarding the future play an important role in understanding the vulnerability to psychological disorders and physical illness as well. A significant positive connection arises between optimism and coping strategies emphasized on social support and insistence on positive facets of stressful events. By employing of specific strategies, optimism also influences quality of life indirectly. Many researchers also confirmed that the optimistic people showed a higher level of life as compared to those with low levels of optimism. Optimism may also significantly impacts physical and mental wellbeing of individuals by the promotion of a healthy life style patterns and also by adaptive behaviours linked with greater decision making, flexible approach and problem solving capability. This paper focuses on optimism and its important constructs. This paper is also an attempt to explore the relationship of optimism with physical health, mental health, coping, quality of life and adaptation to purpose, healthy life style and risk perception. Key Words: Optimism, physical health, mental health, coping strategies. Policy