El papel del optimismo y del apoyo social en el bienestar subjetivo

Resumen de los autores

Introduction In recent years, a great deal of research has been carried out to identify the aspects that affect subjective well–being. In these studies, different indicators of well–being have been used. While some studies have used satisfaction with life as an indicator, others have focussed on psychological adjustment, while still in some other cases the focus has been on positive emotions and even physical health, understood as the lack of illness, as contributing to well–being. Nevertheless, these indicators have not been directly comparable. The objective of this study is to analyze whether optimism and social support equally affect or not subjective well–being. Subjective well–being has been defined as the global tendency to experience life in a pleasant way. The evaluation that people carry out has two components: a cognitive component, evaluated through life satisfaction, and an affective one, measured through positive and negative affect. Previous research has been centred on analysing the factors which could influence either on positive or negative ways, such as personality, optimism, coping styles, and social support. It has been demonstrated that well–being is determined, in some way, by optimism and social support. However, there has been very little research analysing the relative impact of these variables on the different measures of well–being. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of optimism and social support on the different components of subjective well–being. We have analysed: firstly, the relationships of optimism and social support with well–being; second, whether or not optimists feel more subjective well–being; third, social support together with optimism have an enhancer effect on well–being; and four, optimism and social support can differentially predict the several components of subjective well–being. Method This is a cross–sectional study where subjective well–being has been assessed in 477 people from general population between 18 and 66 years old (M=25.66; SD=8.81). The following measures were used: satisfaction with specific life domains (partner, job/studies, health and leisure), life satisfaction, positive emotions, negative emotions, and mental health. Optimism was evaluated through the Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT–R) and Social Support through the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ–6). Moreover, certain demographic and physical health characteristics were assessed through a semi–structured interview. In order to analyse the relationships among the variables included in the study, we administered partial correlations, controlling for gender. Also, one–way analyses were conducted to discover any differences in well–being between high, medium, and low optimists. Afterwards, U Mann–Whitney was applied in order to analyze whether optimist people with high social support show more well–being than optimist people without social support. Finally, in order to study the capacity of optimism and social support in predicting the different components of well–being, several multiple regression analyses were applied. Results Results showed that socio–demographic and physical health variables do not influence optimism. There is a close relationship between optimism and all the measures of subjective well–being, with optimists showing more life satisfaction, fewer psychological symptoms, more positive emotions, less negative emotions, and being more satisfied in several specific life domains, such as partner and health. Perceived social support is associated with different signs of well–being, although the extent of the correlation is lower. Participants with more perceived social support show better adjustment, more life satisfaction and partner satisfaction, they have more positive emotions and less negative emotions. There are not significant associations of perceived social support with health satisfaction and with job satisfaction. The amount of social support resources shows low correlations with subjective well–being, particularly with some of the psychological adjustment measures and with life satisfaction. When differences between high and low optimists are analysed, similar results are observed. High optimists have less anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity symptoms, and score lower in the strength disorder index than low optimists. Moreover, high optimists experience more positive emotions and less negative ones, report more satisfaction with their partner, with health and with life in general, and have more perceived social support. So, optimism seems to have an influence on most of the well–being components. On the other hand, when optimism and social support effect on well–being are analyzed altogether, it can be observed that high optimist people with high social support show more positive emotions, more satisfaction with leisure, more life satisfaction; and less negative emotions, depression and interpersonal sensitivity than high optimists with poor social support. Regarding the capacity of optimism and both measures of social support –the perceived social support and the amount of support sources– in predicting the different components of well–being, it has been found that the relevance of optimism and social support in the prediction of well–being depends on which component of it is considered. Life satisfaction is predicted by optimism, perceived social support, and the amount of support sources, around 30% of the variance. Mental health is predicted by optimism followed by perceived social support (20.2% of the variance). Positive and negative emotions are predicted by optimism and perceived social support (14% and 12.7% of the variance respectively). Satisfaction with specific life domains is poorly predicted by optimism and perceived social support, except for satisfaction with partner, which is predicted (around 10%) by perceived social support and optimism. Discussion and conclusions Overall, the results r

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

J. Marrero, R., & Carballeira Abella, M. (2010). El papel del optimismo y del apoyo social en el bienestar subjetivo. Salud Mental. http://scielo.unam.mx/pdf/sm/v33n1/v33n1a5.pdf