Optimistic Outlook and Its Relation with Physical and Psychological Symptom Reporting

This empirical paper presents a correlation between optimism and physical and mental health. Optimism is a positive variable and is found very much beneficial for maintaining health in several studies .Actually optimism is the belief that good things will happen and this belief can help a lot for physical wellbeing, psychological well-being, coping and stress management. Present study was undertaken on mothers and their children. Sample was comprised of 300 people. There were75 chronically ill children and their mothers (75) and 75 normal healthy children and their mothers (75). All children were aged between 8-12 years. Chronically ill children were those, who were suffering from any chronic disease. Mother’s optimism was measured through LOT and physical and mental health was assessed by PGIHQN1 (physical symptom reporting and psychological symptom reporting).  Results revealed that optimism is very significantly correlated with physical and psychological symptom reporting. In all the three groups (combined, ill, and healthy) mothers who were optimistic reported fewer physical and psychological symptoms of illness. Thus it can be said that mothers felt physically and psychologically healthier with their optimistic outlook