RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPTIMISM, ANGER EXPERIENCE AND SYMPTOMS OF PHYSICAL DISTRESS

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to study the relationship between optimism, anger experience and the frequency and intensity of perception of negative physical symptoms. Eight-six university students were assessed by questionnaires and self report measure of physical symptoms. Results show that high optimism was associate with low perception and intensity of physical symptoms. Individuals who inform of high levels of anger experience show more frequency and intensity of perception of physical symptoms. We conducted a regression analysis and found that optimism and anger experience predict the perception of physical symptoms. The same analysis for the intensity of symptoms perceived show that dispositional optimism was the unique predictor of intensity of physical symptoms. These results raised Optimism and anger experience may be protec-tor factor for symptoms of physical distress.