Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 102, Issue 1 , Pages 35-45 , September 2007

The association between dispositional optimism and mental health problems among disaster victims and a comparison group: A prospective study

  • Peter G. van der Velden

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Psychotrauma, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Institute for Psychotrauma, P.O. Box 266, 5300 AG Zaltbommel, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 418 683400.
    • ,
  • Rolf. J. Kleber

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Psychotrauma, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands
    • Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Marijda Fournier

      Affiliations

    • VU University Medical Centre, GGZ Buitenamstel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Linda Grievink

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Environmental Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Annelieke Drogendijk

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Psychotrauma, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Berthold P.R. Gersons

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center/De Meren, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Received 25 September 2006 ,Revised 5 December 2006 ,Accepted 5 December 2006.

References 

  1. Aaronson NK, Muller M, Cohen PDA, Essink-Bot ML, Fekkes M, Sanderman R, et al. Translation, validation, and norming of the Dutch language version of the SF-36 health survey in community and chronic disease populations. Clin. Epidemiol. 1998;51:1055–1068
  2. Ai AL, Santangelo LK, Cascio T. The traumatic impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the potential protection of optimism. J. Interpers. Violence. 2006;21:689–700
  3. Andersson G. The benefits of optimism: a meta-analytic review of the life orientation test. J. Pers. Individ. Differ. 1996;21:719–725
  4. Arrindell WA, Ettema JHM. Handleiding bij een multidimensionele psychopathologie-indicator SCL-90 [Manual for a Multidimensional Psychopathology Indicator SCL-90]. Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets&Zeitlinger/Swets Test Publishers; 1986;
  5. Aspinwall LG, Brunhart SM. Distinguishing optimism from denial: optimistic beliefs predict attention to health threats. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 1996;22:993–1003
  6. Aspinwall LG, Richter L, Hoffman RR. Understanding how optimism works: an examination of optimists' adaptive moderation of belief and behavior. In:  Change EC editors. Optimism and Pessimism. Implications for Theory, Research and Practice. Washington DC: American Psychological Association; 2001;p. 217–238
  7. Başoğlu M, Şalcioğlu E, Livanou M, Kalender G. Single-session behavioral treatment of earth-quake-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized waiting list controlled trial. J. Trauma Stress. 2005;18:1–11
  8. Benight CC, Bandura A. Social cognitive theory of posttraumatic recovery: the role of perceived self-efficacy. Behav. Res. Ther. 2004;42:1129–1148
  9. Benight CC, Harper ML. Coping self-efficacy perceptions as a mediator between acute stress response and long-term distress following natural disasters. J. Trauma. Stress. 2002;15:177–186
  10. Benight CC, Ironson G, Klebe K, Carver C, Wynings C, Greenwood D, et al. Conservation of resources and coping self-efficacy predicting distress following a natural disaster: a causal model analyses where the environment meets the mind. Anxiety Stress Coping. 1999;12:107–126
  11. Benight CC, Freyaldenhoven RW, Hughes J, Ruiz JM, Zoschke TA. Coping self-efficacy and psychological distress following the Oklahoma City Bombing. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2000;30:1131–1344
  12. Brenner GF, Melamed BG, Panush RS. Optimism and coping as determinants of psychosocial adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis. J. Clin. Psychol. Med. Settings. 1994;1:115–134
  13. Brewin CR, Andrews B, Valentine JD. Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. J. Consul. Clin. Psychol. 2000;68:748–766
  14. Brewin C, Galea S, Jones RT, Kendrick D, Kessler R, King L, et al. Overview of baseline survey results: Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group. 2006;(www.hurricanekatrina.med.harvard.edu). Accessed 30 august 2006
  15. Carver CS, Pozo-Kaderman C, Harris SD, Noriega V, Scheier MF, Robinson DS, et al. Optimism versus pessimism predicts the quality of women's adjustment to early stage breast cancer. Cancer. 1994;73:1213–1220
  16. Derogatis LR. SCL-90-R Administration, Scoring & Procedures Manual-II for the (revised) version and other instruments of the psychopathology rating scale series. Towson, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research; 1983;
  17. Dijkema M, Grievink L, Stellato RK, Roorda J, Van der Velden PG. Determinants of response in a longitudinal health study following the firework-disaster in Enschede, the Netherlands. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 2005;20:839–847
  18. Dirkzwager A, Grievink L, Van der Velden PG, Yzermans CJ. A prospective study of risk factors for psychological and physical health problems after a man-made disaster. Br. J. Psychiatry. 2006;189:144–149
  19. Dougall AL, Hyman KB, Hayward MC, McFeeley S, Baum A. Optimism and traumatic stress: the importance of social support and coping. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2001;31:223–245
  20. Fournier M, de Ridder DTD, Bensing JM. Optimism and adaptation to multiple sclerosis: what does optimism mean?. J. Behav. Med. 1999;22:303–326
  21. Fournier M, de Ridder DTD, Bensing JM. Optimism and adaptation to chronic disease: the role of optimism in relation to self-care options of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Br. J. Health Psychol. 2002;7:409–432
  22. Fournier M, de Ridder DTD, Bensing JM. Is optimism sensitive to stress of chronic disease? The impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis on optimistic beliefs. Psychol. Health. 2003;18:277–294
  23. Galea S, Nandi A, Vlahov D. The epidemiology of posttraumatic stress disorder after disasters. Epidemiol. Rev. 2005;27:78–91
  24. Giltay EJ, Zitman FG, Kromhout D. Dispositional optimism and the risk of depressive symptoms during 15 years of follow-up: The Zuthpen Elderly Study. J. Affect. Disord. 2006;91:45–52
  25. GGD Nederland (Health Authority Netherlands) . Standaard vraagstelling roken (Standardized Questions for Smoking). Utrecht: GGD Nederland; 2003;
  26. Grievink L, Van der Velden PG, Yzermans CJ, Roorda J, Stellato RK. The importance of estimating selection bias on prevalence estimates shortly after a disaster. Ann. Epidemiol. 2006;16:782–788
  27. Irving LM, Telfer L, Blake DD. Hope, coping, and social support in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Int. Soc. Trauma. Stress Stud. 1997;465–479
  28. Kangas M, Henry J, Bryant R. Posttraumatic stress disorder following cancer. A conceptual and empirical review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 2002;22:499–524
  29. Kessler RC, Sonnega A, Hughes M, Nelsson CB. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the national comorbidity survey. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 1995;52:1048–1060
  30. Koenen KC, Hitsman B, Lyons MJ, Niaura R, McCaffery J, Goldberg J, et al. A twin registry study of the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and nicotine dependence in men. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 2005;62:258–1265
  31. Lauterbach D, Vrana S. The relationship among personality variables, exposure to traumatic events, and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms. J. Trauma. Stress. 2001;14:29–45
  32. Lutgendorf SK, Antoni MH, Ironson G, Fletcher MA, Penedo F, Baum A, et al. Physical symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are exacerbated by the stress of Hurricane Andrew. Psychosom. Med. 1995;57:310–323
  33. Mooren TTM. The Impact of War. Studies on the Psychological Consequences of War and Migration. The Netherlands, Delft: Eburon Publishers; 2001;
  34. Norris FH. Range, Magnitude, and Duration of the Effects of Disasters on Mental Health: Review Update 2005. 2005;(www.redmh.org). Accessed 15 february 2006
  35. Norris FH. Disaster research methods: past progress and future directions. J. Trauma. Stress. 2006;19:173–184
  36. Norris FH, Friedman M, Watson PJ, Byrne CM, Diaz E, Kaniasty K. 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry. 2002;65:207–239
  37. Ozer EJ, Best SR, Lipsey TL, Weiss DS. Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: a meta-analysis. Psychol. Bull. 2003;129:52–73
  38. Scheier MF, Carver CS. Optimism, coping and health: assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychol. 1985;4:219–247
  39. Scheier MF, Carver CS. Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well-being: theoretical overview and empirical update. Cogn. Ther. Res. 1992;16:201–228
  40. Scheier MF, Carver CS, Bridges MW. Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem: a reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1994;67:1063–1078
  41. Schou I, Ekeberg Ø, Sandvik L, Ruland CM. Stability in optimism–pessimism in relation to bad news: a study of women with breast cancer. J. Pers. Assess. 2005;84:149–155
  42. Smith BW, Freedy JR. Psychosocial resource loss a mediator of the effects of flood exposure on psychological distress and physical symptoms. J. Trauma. Stress. 2000;13:349–357
  43. Solberg Nes L, Segerstrom SC. Dispositional optimism and coping: a meta-analytic review. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Rev. 2006;10:235–251
  44. Sumer N, Nuray-Karanci A, Kazak-Berument S, Gunes H. Personal resources, coping self-efficacy, and quack exposure as predictors of psychological distress following the 1999 Earthquake in Turkey. J. Trauma. Stress. 2005;18:331–342
  45. Van den Berg B, Grievink L, Stellato RK, Yzermans CJ, Lebret E. Symptoms and related functioning in a traumatized community. Arch. Intern. Med. 2005;65:2402–2407
  46. Van der Velden PG, Grievink L, Kleber RJ, Drogendijk AN, Roskam AJR, Marcelissen FGH, et al. Post-disaster mental health problems and the utilization of mental health services: a four-year longitudinal comparative study. Adm. Policy Ment. Health Men. Health Serv. Res. 2006;33:279–288
  47. Van der Velden PG, Kleber RJ, Christiaanse B, Gersons BPR, Marcelissen FGH, Drogendijk AN, et al. The predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for postdisaster intrusions and avoidance reactions and PTSD severity: a four-year prospective study. J. Trauma. Stress. 2006;19:493–506
  48. Van der Zee KI, Sanderman R. Het meten van de algemene gezondheidstoestand met de RAND-36: een handleiding [Measuring general health with the RAND-36: a manual]. In: Groningen: Noordelijk Centrum voor Gezondheidsvraagstukken, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. 1993;
  49. Van Kamp I, Van der Velden PG, Stellato RK, Roorda J, Van Loon J, Kleber RJ, et al. Physical and mental health shortly after a disaster: first results from the Enschede Firework Disaster Study. Eur. J. Public Health. 2005;16:253–259
  50. Vlahov D, Galea S, Resnick H, Ahern J, Boscarino JA, Bucuvalas M. Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorists attacks. Am. J. Epidemiol. 2002;155:988–996
  51. Waysman M, Schwarzwald J, Solomon Z. Hardiness: an examination of its relationship with positive and negative long-term changes following trauma. J. Trauma. Stress. 2001;14:531–548
  52. Zeidner M, Hammer AL. Coping with missile attack: resources, strategies and outcomes. J. Personal. 1992;60:709–746

PII: S0165-0327(06)00533-7

doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.004

Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 102, Issue 1 , Pages 35-45 , September 2007

Article Tools