Think positive? Examining the impact of optimism on academic achievement in early adolescents

Objective: Although optimism\u27s beneficial role for various life areas is well documented, previous findings regarding its significance for students\u27 achievement at school are inconclusive. This study examined the relation between optimism and academic achievement in early adolescents. It investigated the functional form of this relation, addressed whether the initial achievement level moderates this association, and compared this with effects on self-esteem. Method: We used a large German sample (N56,010; 53.2% females; baseline Mage514.1) with two measurement points over a period of 5 months (middle and end of 7th grade). Estimating LOESS curves and latent change-regression models revealed three main findings. Results: (a) Optimism showed a nonlinear association with subsequent changes in academic achievement: Optimism promoted academic achievement, but this positive association reached a plateau in above-average optimism ranges and a minimum value in below-average ranges of optimism. (b) The achievement level at t1 moderated this relation so that high optimism exerted a more positive effect for high-achieving adolescents. (c) By contrast, optimism had an overall positive effect on self-esteem. Conclusions: The results therefore broaden the evidence on benefits of optimism by linking optimism to academic success in early adolescents but indicate only small and nonlinear associations. (DIPF/Orig.

Why are you so optimistic? Effects of sociodemographic factors, individual experiences, and peer characteristics on optimism in early adolescents

Objective: Although a growing body of research has confirmed the manifold advantages of being an optimist, only a limited body of previous research has addressed the antecedents of optimism in real-life situations. This study examined whether parental socioeconomic status (SES), age-salient experiences (i.e., doing well in school and perceiving acceptance from peers), and aspects of the student composition at school contribute to changes in the optimism of early adolescents. Method: We followed a large sample of German seventh graders (N = 7,272; 2.9% females; baseline Mage = 14.1) at two measurement points over a period of 5 months and estimated latent regression models. Results: First, optimism showed medium-sized rank-order stability between both measurement points. Second, parental SES predicted changes in optimism, but this effect was fully mediated by age-salient experiences. Third, positive age?salient experiences (i.e., academic achievement and perceived peer acceptance) predicted positive changes in early adolescents\u27 optimism. Fourth, our results suggested no effects of school peer composition. Conclusions: The findings broaden our current knowledge about antecedents of changes in optimism during early adolescence by highlighting the effects of positive age-salient experiences, namely, academic achievement and perceived acceptance from peers. (DIPF/Orig.

Selbstführung als zentrale Kompetenz in digitalen und flexiblen Arbeitswelten : evidenzbasierte Strategien der Selbstregulation für Führungskräfte und Mitarbeitende

In flexiblen Arbeitswelten mit flachen Hierarchien und projektorientierter, mobiler Arbeitsweise nimmt die Bedeutung effektiver Selbstregulation und Selbstführung zu. Führungskräfte und Mitarbeitende müssen eigeninitiativ und -verantwortlich Ziele setzen und erreichen. Das wichtigste langfristigste Ziel dabei ist es, bei guter Gesundheit eine gute Leistungsfähigkeit zu erreichen. Wie kann dies gelingen, ohne sich zu stark von kurzfristigen Bedürfnisbefriedigungen, Störungen und nichtprioritären Aktivitäten ablenken zu lassen? Die langjährige Forschung in der Sozial-, Gesundheits- und Arbeitspsychologie zeigt: Es konnten verschiedene Strategien erfolgreicher Selbstregulation und -führung identifiziert werden. Sie alle funktionieren nach einem einfachen, aber effektiven Grundprinzip. Obwohl bisher im Arbeitskontext zu wenig explizit gemacht, ist dieses Prinzip ein Hauptfaktor erfolgreicher Selbstführung. Im Artikel werden unter Berücksichtigung dieses Grundprinzips acht evidenzbasierte Strategien aus Sozial-, Gesundheits- und Arbeitspsychologie für die Selbstführung in flexiblen Arbeitswelten nutzbar gemacht