Diferentiating Optimists from Pessimists in the Prediction of Emotional Intelligence, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction: A Latent Profle Analysis

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2022Suggested citation
Blasco Belled, Ana;
Rogoza, Radosław;
Torrelles Nadal, Cristina;
Alsinet, Carles;
.
(2022)
.
Diferentiating Optimists from Pessimists in the Prediction of Emotional Intelligence, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction: A Latent Profle Analysis.
Journal of Happiness Studies, 2022.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00507-4.
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What are the diferences between optimists and pessimists? The aim of this study is to
analyze the diferences reported by optimists and pessimists in terms of three psychological variables: emotional intelligence (EI), happiness, and life satisfaction. To answer this
question, we examined the extent to which a combination of diferent levels of optimism
and pessimism can diferently predict EI, happiness, and life satisfaction in two independent samples (891 adults, 494 adolescents). To do that, we introduced a person-centered
approach, which ofers several advantages in the study of optimism over the extended, predominant variable-centered approach. Then, using a latent profle analysis, we identifed
three groups of individuals with a similar optimism–pessimism confguration: optimists,
ambivalents, and pessimists. The results obtained supported our hypothesis that optimists
report higher EI, happiness, and life satisfaction levels than those reported by pessimists.
Low levels of optimism, rather than high levels of pessimism, distinguish optimistic from
non-optimistic people in the prediction of external outcomes. Our results suggest that optimism and pessimism can be viewed as separate yet correlated traits that can be grouped
together to explain individual afective and cognitive diferences, which encourage the
refnement of strategies and interventions used in psychology practice.
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Journal of Happiness Studies, 2022European research projects
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