Accepting pessimistic thinking is associated with better mental and physical health in defensive pessimists

Abstract

The mental and physical health of defensive pessimists (DPs) is generally worse than that of optimists. However, some DPs who accept their pessimistic thinking style are in good health. This study examined the healm of college students who were DPs related to how they accepted their thinking style. In Study 1 (F = 211, M = 131), self-esteem was compared among DPs, strategic optimists (SOs), and depressed persons(DEPs). In Study 2 (F = 376, M = 251, not indicated = 5), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28) was compared among these groups. ANOVAs revealed that DPs were healthier than DEPs in self-esteem and on the GHQ28, but worse than SOs in self-esteem. However, ANCOVA examining self-esteem with acceptance of their thinking style as a covariate showed that DPs were better than DEPs and as good as SOs in health. Regarding the acceptance of their thinking style, DPs scored worse than SOs. This study concluded that DPs in better health had better acceptance of their pessimistic thinking style.