Journal article
Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression
Journal of affective disorders, Vol.414, pp.1-9
01/12/2026
PMID: 42567210
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Background: Dispositional optimism is associated with a lower risk of depression. Optimism may protect against depression by conferring resilience to stressful life events. 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: This prospective cohort study used data from the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons. Participants were aged ≥70 years and without known cardiovascular disease, dementia, independence-limiting physical disability and depression. Optimism and pessimism were measured using the Life Orientation Test-Revised. Incident depression was defined as a score ≥ 8 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The experience of 10 different types of stressors was assessed.
Findings: 10,791 participants were followed for a median (IQR) period of 3.5 (2.8–5.0) years. After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical factors and genetic predisposition to depression (using a polygenic score), optimism was associated with a lower risk of depression (HR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.90–0.93). 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. Neither optimism nor pessimism was associated with differences in the strength of the relationship between stressors and depression (p ≥ 0.499).
Conclusions: 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. These findings raise questions regarding whether optimism confers resilience to stressors in older adults.
Details
- Title
- Effect of dispositional optimism and pessimism on the relationship between stressful life events and late-life depression
- Creators
- Greg Roebuck - Barwon HealthMojtaba Lotfaliany - Barwon HealthJames Whittaker - Barwon HealthMalcolm Forbes - Barwon HealthMohammadreza Mohebbi - Deakin UniversityJohn J. McNeil - Monash UniversityRobyn L. Woods - Monash UniversityAlice J. Owen - Monash UniversityStephanie A. Ward - UNSW SydneyRosanne Freak-Poli - Monash UniversityDanijela Gasevic - Monash UniversityHeather Craig - Mind AustraliaChenglong Yu - Monash UniversityPaul Lacaze - Monash UniversityJessica E. Green - Barwon HealthRichard A. Kanaan - The University of MelbourneMichael Berk - Deakin University
- Publication Details
- Journal of affective disorders, Vol.414, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Grant note
- The ASPREE trial was supported by grants from the National Institute on Ageing and the National Cancer Institute at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (U01AG029824 and U19AG062682); the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) (334047, 1081901 and 1127060); Monash University (Australia) and the Victorian Cancer Agency (Australia).
- Identifiers
- 991013402964502368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Authors.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article