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Unrealistic Optimism and Psychological Wellbeing in First Year College Students

Pitcher, Taylor L
http://orcid.org/0009-0006-6081-5190
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1683555422541581

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Unrealistic optimism is associated with more risky behaviors, less health-promoting behaviors, and greater belief in one’s invulnerability (Dillard et al., 2009; Spendelow & Jose, 2010; Weinstein, 1980). Currently, there is limited information regarding college students’ assessment of their mental health risk and the mental health implications of unrealistic optimism. The present study sought to expand the literature and explore if college students’ group status (i.e., unrealistic optimists, realists, and unrealistic pessimists) as it related to their risk of depression and anxiety at the beginning of the first semester of college (T1) would be associated with psychological well-being and health related behaviors at the end of the first semester of college (T2), while controlling for social desirability. A minimum of 152 participants needed to be retained from T1 to T2; however, only 104 were retained. As a result, primary analyses examined the cross-sectional data from 187 participants at T1 instead. Results indicate that this particular cohort of first year students had high social desirability despite the anonymity of the surveys. Furthermore, this cohort also unexpectedly had more unrealistic pessimists than those in previous unrealistic optimism research studies. Lastly, results indicate that unrealistic optimists had worse mental health outcomes than realists and unrealistic pessimists. Despite limitations, this research filled a number of gaps in the unrealistic optimism literature and has implications for applied research that could examine the benefits of identifying students’ optimism status. Furthermore, this study offered interesting insights about optimism group statuses that can inform future experimental studies, as well as popular perception.
Jennifer E. Gibson, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Nicholas Salsman, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member)
Jennifer E. Phillips, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
104 p.
Psychology
unrealistic optimism, psychological wellbeing, mental health, first year college students

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pitcher, T. L. (2023). Unrealistic Optimism and Psychological Wellbeing in First Year College Students [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1683555422541581

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pitcher, Taylor. Unrealistic Optimism and Psychological Wellbeing in First Year College Students. 2023. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1683555422541581.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pitcher, Taylor. "Unrealistic Optimism and Psychological Wellbeing in First Year College Students." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1683555422541581

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xupsy1683555422541581
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© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.