Optimism and depressive symptoms in an adult lifespan sample: evaluating coping in daily life as a mechanism

Objectives
Dispositional optimism is a protective factor for mental health, but the mechanisms behind this relationship are unclear. Previous literature suggests coping may be involved. Optimism may impact how often and how flexibly one employs problem-focused, support-seeking, or cognitive strategies when coping with daily stressors, possibly contributing to mental health differences. We examined whether coping strategy use mediated the relationship between optimism and changes in depressive symptoms.

Methods and Measures
A community-based sample of 240 adults completed baseline assessments of optimism and depressive symptoms, followed by a 2-week experience sampling period where participants reported daily stressors and stressor-specific coping strategy use 4× daily. Participants then completed another questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms.

Results
Optimism predicted reductions in depressive symptoms from baseline to follow-up, but this was not mediated by coping strategy frequency or flexibility (p values > .05). Follow-up analyses demonstrated that optimism was related to lower depressive symptoms among younger and middle-aged and not among older adults, but no differences emerged during multiple group mediation analyses. Coping strategy use also had no direct effect on depressive symptoms (p values > .05).

Conclusion
Our study supports the protective role of optimism on depressive symptoms even over a short-term period, but research on mechanisms such as coping efficacy is warranted.