Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and…

Cohort studyJournal of affective disorders· Aug 2026

Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression.

Greg Roebuck, Mojtaba Lotfaliany, James Whittaker … Michael Berk

Mood DisordersCohort studyPrognosisQ1IF 6.0

Higher dispositional optimism linked to lower risk of late-life depression.

Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression.

Greg Roebuck … Michael Berk

Journal of affective disorders · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Psychiatry

Background

Dispositional optimism is associated with a lower risk of depression.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dispositional optimism, and the related trait of dispositional pessimism, on the relationship between stressors and depression in older adults.

Methods

Were aged ≥70 years and without known cardiovascular disease, dementia, independence-limiting physical disability and depression.

n = 10,791 participants

Results

optimism linked to lower depression risk

HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.93)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

10,791 participants were followed for a median (IQR) period of 3.5 (2.8-5.0) years.

Pessimism (HR, 1.07; 95% CI 1.06-1.08) and stressful life events (HR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.14-1.21) were associated with a higher depression risk.

More results

Neither optimism nor pessimism was associated with differences in the strength of the relationship between stressors and depression (p ≥ 0.499).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Optimism was associated with a lower risk of late-life depression. However, it was not associated with lower vulnerability to the depressogenic effects of stressful life events.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings raise questions regarding whether optimism confers resilience to stressors in older adults.

Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression.

Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression.

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