From Unrealistic to Functional Optimism in Illness Perception: A Psychometric Comparison Across 10 Countries

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Individual perceptions of illness and risk significantly shape health behaviors and protective measures.
• Unrealistic optimism often leads to underestimation of personal infection risk.
• Crises, characterized by uncontrollable circumstances, can disrupt self-regulation and challenge optimistic biases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between optimism, risk perception, and illness perception during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To explore cross-country variations in these perceptions and their interconnections.
• To understand how optimism functions adaptively in the context of a global health crisis.

Main Methods:

• Bayesian structural equation modeling was employed to assess psychometric stability.
• One-way ANOVAs were utilized for cross-country comparative analyses.
• Multiple regression analyses examined the influence of optimism and demographics on illness perception.

Main Results:

• Substantial cross-country differences were observed in both optimism levels and illness perceptions.
• Optimism was positively correlated with increased perception of COVID-19 risks, particularly concerning negative outcomes, personal worry, and perceived consistency of the illness.
• Optimism demonstrated a shift from an unrealistic bias to a functional attribute during the crisis.

Conclusions:

• Optimism plays an adaptive role during health crises, fostering functional benefits.
• Optimism promotes enhanced personal control, treatment adherence, and a coherent understanding of illness.
• These findings underscore the importance of optimism in individuals' self-management of health during challenging times.